Copa America: Messi’s first title with Argentina

Rio de Janeiro | Thunder at Maracana Stadium! Lionel Messi finally ended his country’s 28-year drought by linking his first title with Argentina with Neymar Brazil in the Copa America final (1-0).

Fifth is correct: after losing four major tournament finals with Albiceleste (Mondial-2014, Copa Am 2007rica 2007, 2015 and 2016), the six-time Golden Ball finally lifted the trophy with his country jersey.

With the victory of his teammates after the final whistle, Messi, 34, finished the tournament’s top scorer and passer (4 goals and 5 assists).

But the hero of the final is known as Angel de Maria: the Paris SG player scored the winning goal for Argentina with an amazing lab, after a brilliant opening from Rodrigo de Paul, who also excelled in Maracana.

Before being consoled by a hug from his former teammate Messi at FC Barcelona, ​​he did not know how to affect the match and shed tears after the final whistle.

For Brazil, we are far from the Maracanazo injury of 1950 against Uruguay or the 7-1 humiliation by Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup, but it remains a cruel illusion for the players. Won five other editions of the Copa that played at home.

Tait’s men have been unbeaten in official matches since the 2018 World Cup quarter – final against Belgium (1-2).

In the Copa America final (2004, 2007) and the semi-finals of the final edition, they defeated their greatest Argentine rivals in their last two encounters in 2019.

Argentina, who have not won a trophy since the 1993 Copa Amrica in Ecuador, topped Uruguay with 15 trophies, keeping the Brazilians at bay (9).

For this gala match, Rio’s City Hall allowed the presence of a few thousand supporters, with a 10% gauge in Maracana for the climax of a match, the COVID-19 pandemic that killed more than 530,000 people in Brazil as all previous matches were played behind closed doors.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino arrived in Rio specifically for the final and was also at the party.

The tension is obvious

Argentina coach Lionel Scola has decided to stand firm with Di Maria, who has been involved in the attack alongside Messi and Loutaro Martinez in the last three games.

Like any “super classico” between the two sacred monsters in South American football, the tension is evident from the kick-off.

Selekao started a big hit, aggression was quickly granted by the yellow card for Fred from the third minute of the game.

Neymar also wanted to immediately identify his territory after Sambrero hit (7) at the center line on his former PSG teammate Celso.^E).

But after the start of the match, with a large number of errors on both sides, lightning came from Di Maria.

Parisian winger Goalkeeper Ederson, started by De Paul on the right side in the offside limit, picked up the Speed ​​Renan load before fooling the beautiful Lab (22).^E).

The goal came as a bit of a surprise to Brazil and the Argentine waves continued to rise, with strikes coming from Di Maria (28).^E) And Messi (30)^E).

Fried and Selenao tried everything for Tait to bring in an extra striker at half-time to replace Firmino.

Richardson denied a goal for offside (52)^E) And made a mistake on goalkeeper Martinez (53)^E), After a good start from Neymar in this area.

Gabigol created two chances at the end of the match (82^E, 86^E), But Argentina won at the Brazilian football temple.