Lionel Messi (center) is hoping for his first title with Argentina
Source: AP / Andre Penner
You missed a lot of chances to win. But Argentina won on penalties against Colombia and is in the final of the Copa America. An old rival, Brazil, is waiting there.
AAt the end, tears flowed at “La Albiceleste”. Argentina is in the final of the Copa America. There the team will face Brazil on Saturday in the Maracanã Stadium. On July 10, the two tens of their country will meet: Neymar against Lionel Messi.
The Argentine national team around the already legendary Messi tenth won 3-2 on penalties against Colombia at the Estádio Mané Garrincha in Brasília on Tuesday evening (local time). After the regular playing time it was 1: 1 (1: 0).
Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez gave Argentina the lead in the seventh minute. Once again, the all-rounder Messi provided the template. He lost control of the ball in the penalty area, but got through to Yerry Mina, spun and fell back on Martínez, who hit with a low shot.
Messi probably had a private feud with Mina. After Mina had missed his penalty for the Colombian national team, Messi cheered demonstratively in the direction and shouted: “Dance, dance!” The background was a provocative dance performance by the Colombian after his goal in the penalty shootout against Uruguay, and with it Messi’s close friend Luis Suarez, in the quarterfinals of the Copa.
For Colombia, which played the South American Championship without its star James Rodríguez, Luis Díaz (FC Porto) equalized to 1-1 (61st). After that, Argentina missed numerous scoring opportunities. On penalties, goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez became Argentina’s match winner when he saved three penalties.
“We have the best in the world”
Instead of celebrating the success, Martínez preferred to look ahead to the decision on Saturday. “Brazil is a great team. You have been a contender for the title since day one, but we have a great coach, the best in the world and we want to win, ”he said, praising his coach Lionel Scaloni and his team-mate Messi. “What’s better than playing against Brazil at home?”
The final is scheduled for July 10th at the legendary Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. And before that, Brazil’s superstar Neymar had made it clear that he wanted the classic in the final.
The Brazilian superstar: Neymar
What: REUTERS
“I want Argentina, I keep my fingers crossed for Argentina, I have friends there, Brazil will be the winner in the final,” he said after Brazil paved the way for the dream final with a 1-0 win against Peru in the first semi-final .
Argentina has been waiting for the title since 1993
Brazil wants to defend the title in their own country, has an always dangerous goalscorer in Neymar and is currently leading the qualifying group for the 2022 World Cup with six wins from six games.
Messi, who is currently without a club due to his expired contract with FC Barcelona, led Argentina into the final and wants to finally win an international title with the national team. Equipped with numerous trophies at club level, the exceptional athlete was never able to win the World Cup or the Copa with Argentina. Messi won’t get chances like these that often anymore.
Argentina’s record scorer is also chasing Pele as the leader in the statistics at the Copa America. The Argentine selection won the Copa America for the last time in 1993.
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