By Joiner Martínez
Jun 20, 2024, 11:36 PM EDT
Manchester City striker Julián Álvarez had the pleasure of scoring Argentina’s first goal in this Copa América: after a deep ball from Lionel Messi and the assist from Alexis Mac Allister.
Álvarez advanced Lionel Scaloni’s team against Canada and illuminated the path to victory, for which he was chosen as MVP of the game by the organization.
However, before being replaced by Lautaro Martínez (scorer of the second goal), he took a kind of autograph from a rival defender.
“I think it was one of the last plays before leaving. I don’t know if I jumped to head or what. And well, it was a scratch, things from the game,” Álvarez commented in an interview after showing the shocking wound that was left on his neck.
Later, the 9th referred to the fact of having returned to scoring and breaking a drought of more than a year with the national team: “Obviously one always wants to score as a forward, especially for personal confidence and to help the team, but I was always calm and I felt very comfortable because my teammates give me confidence and I try to help from wherever I can. First to defend, be the first defender up there. And then, when it’s time to play, help the team. The goals were already going to come.”
The Manchester City striker had also expressed how he had to work against the constant friction from the Canadians: “They hit me from all sides, but it’s part of the game. Sometimes we have to fight, the important thing is that we win.”
And he concluded: “I had been in the previous Copa América, but I had only played one game. Now, after having been world champion. But we didn’t think about that, it was important to start winning. It is important for the striker to score goals for confidence and help the team. He hasn’t scored in a long time and, in the games he played in, I felt good.”
He also referred to the state of the playing field: “We talked about it with my teammates after the warm-up. He was not in the best condition, it does not favor our game, but we played a great game in our own way and the important thing is that, that we took the three points.”
Keep reading:
Argentina started the Copa América with a hard-fought victory against Canada [Video]
“This field is regrettable”: “Cuti” Romero and “Dibu” Martínez complained about the field in Atlanta
With transmission failures: Ferxxo starred in the inaugural show of the Copa América 2024