Relief as Argentina reach the Copa America final to give Messi another chance for glory

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The tension was too high for Argentina’s veteran players – they have painful memories of the penalty shootouts at the 2015 and 2016 Copa America.

But new starting goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez rose to the occasion, saving three times, and after a 1-1 draw, Argentina beat Colombia on penalties to advance to Saturday’s final.

The match has always been interesting, often in bad moods, but it will leave the fans of Lionel Messi in good shape, as well as all those who were hoping for the Maracana between Brazil and Argentina.

Had Colombia won on penalties, the match would go down in records with a draw, and Argentina would maintain a two-year unbeaten sprint. But that wouldn’t be the slightest consolation for Messi and Co, as the No. 10 star looks for his first title with the national team, and Argentina aims to end 28 years of mischief. They haven’t won any major titles since the 1993 Copa America.

– ESPN FC Daily broadcast on ESPN+ (US only) – Vickery: Peru’s defeat may have exposed Brazil’s weakness

Coach Lionel Scaloni’s first competitive match was against Colombia as well – they were defeated 2-0 in the opening match of the Copa 2019 tournament. It quickly killed his early idea of ​​playing. Inspired by world champion France, Scaloni wanted a team of quick turnarounds. But he ended up with a team stretched across the field and snatched away by the Colombians. He was a role model that made no sense in a team that included the aging Messi. From that low point, Scaloni’s team continued to improve, making strides towards an idea that was very clear in the first few minutes of that meeting in Brasilia.

Messi, 34, is now elegantly in a passing circuit that includes midfielders Rodrigo de Paul and Giovanni Lo Celso, and is developing a relationship with striker Lautaro Martinez. He really came close to scoring for Martinez when another opportunity came quickly. Lo Celso hit the ball into the right channel of the penalty area, Messi turned inside and surrendered to Martinez to sweep the far corner. This was Argentina’s eleventh goal in the competition – every single one of them Messi participated in.

Argentina made a quick start in every match of the tournament. And every time they find it difficult to keep going. The same dynamic revealed itself again, as Colombia – physical and direct – returned to competition.

Just before the World Cup, the two teams met in the World Cup qualifiers in Colombia. Argentina advanced by two goals. Colombia built up the pressure and ended up tying with the last attack of the match. Emiliano Martinez played only his second game for his country, and did not reach the first half even after a bad confrontation with giant central defender Yerry Mina. On Tuesday, a collision with the core form of striker Duvan Zapata weakened him again. Fortunately for Argentina, he was fit this time to continue – although he couldn’t do anything about Colombia’s equalizer within the hour.

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Ali Moreno explains how Brazil defeated Peru in the Copa America semi-finals and looks forward to the title match.

Coach Reinaldo Rueda had completely reshaped his squad in the first half, making three substitutions and changing the lineup. Instead of a 4-4-2, he now lined up his men in a bolder 4-3-3, with the attacking full-back, plenty of speed and width – plus playmaker Edwin Cardona to add some much-needed precision. Cardona divided the rear defense with a pass that allowed excellent left winger Luis Diaz to outsmart Germany’s Pezzella – the apparent lack of speed in the Argentina center back has been a long-standing problem – and opened his body to overtake. Right foot shot into the far post.

It was Argentina’s turn to respond. Angel Di Maria came to cut the ball from the right side, and with De Paul going to the other wing, Argentina switched from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2, seeking to win the midfield battle and giving Messi a platform. which tip the scales.

Di Maria was immediately a lively presence. Possessing a loose pass to Colombia to equalize the goalkeeper and pass the ball to Lautaro Martinez, but the outstanding Wilmar Barrios came back to clear the ball off the goal. Then Di Maria Messi slipped on the left side of the penalty area. Messi turned and shot, and David Ospina was hit but the ball came back from inside the near post and rebounded to safety. Was Messi carrying an eternal curse with his country? With time running out, he created a superb shot that gave left-back Nico Tagliafico a chance at the far post. Tagliafico stretched but couldn’t make contact cleanly and the ball went too far. Late in the day it seemed to Scaloni that sanctions were needed. He rushed to introduce Sergio Aguero in the penalty shootout, but before he could blow the referee’s whistle, the tide came to an end.

If it was a boxing match, Argentina could claim that their late migration would give them the referee on points. But such considerations have no place in the tournament – nor is the fact that the Colombians have only had one win in their six matches in Cuba. It all came to penalty kicks.

As the Spaniard found earlier on Tuesday, back-to-back shootouts are difficult to win, not least because the opposing goalkeeper has had a recent opportunity to study where the kicks are likely to go. Colombian centre-back Davinson Sanchez and Mina hit the left keeper – just as they did against Uruguay on Saturday. At that time they scored goals, this time Emiliano Martinez was waiting for them. And when he dived he left again to block Cardona’s shot, it was over.

Rarely have empty stadiums witnessed such intense celebrations as those of Argentina’s players and coaching staff. They have the potential to win the title – and they are all sure of the match between Brazil and Argentina on Saturday night.

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