By Joiner Martínez
Jun 20, 2024, 10:54 PM EDT
A goal from Julián Álvarez and another from Lautaro Martínez in the second half gave Argentina the victory against a brave Canadian team, in the opening match of the Copa América.
But at the end of the game the first statements were directed at the poor condition of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“The conditions of the fields were very ugly, having to play this competition with this field is unfortunate. It hurt us, but they are not excuses. We show that we have the same hunger as always. “Happy to start off on the right foot,” said “Cuti” Romero.
For his part, goalkeeper “Dibu” Martínez had a similar vision to the defender: “The field was a disaster, it complicated us. When you don’t finish the matches they are going to come to you. Saving the first one in the Copa América gives me a lot of confidence and I want to continue improving.”
While Julián Álvarez finally expressed: “It was important to win because it was the first game. We played a good game beyond the field, which was not in the best conditions. But we took the three points that are very important. The group deserved to start like this. It is a joy”.
Messi happy for Argentina’s victory
The captain of the Argentine soccer team, Lionel Messi, welcomed with joy the tough 2-0 victory over Canada at the beginning of the 2024 Copa América and, after the effort, stated that the achievement must be enjoyed.
“We knew it was going to be like this, we knew what Canada was capable of. It was what we expected: hard, very physical. In the first half there were few spaces, they were intense. Luckily we converted in the second half, but it was complicated,” Messi said.
Then he added: “We have the patience to have the ball, to move it from one side to the other. It was difficult for us to find spaces, but most of the rivals play differently against us. We have to have patience and control for when our opportunities come.”
Messi, who will turn 37 on June 24, became the player who has played the most games in the Copa América this Thursday, 35, one more than Chilean goalkeeper Sergio Livingstone.
The man from Rosario, who missed an incredible goal after an accurate assist from goalkeeper Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez, gave a surgical assist to Lautaro Martínez to make it 2-0.
Keep reading:
Argentina started the Copa América with a hard-fought victory against Canada [Video]
With transmission failures: Ferxxo starred in the inaugural show of the Copa América 2024
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