EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Nearly eight years in the past to the day, Lionel Messi stood at MetLife Stadium moments after shedding the 2016 Copa America ultimate on penalties to Chile and made a declaration.
“For me, the nationwide workforce is over,” he mentioned. “I’ve carried out all that I can.”
The then-29-year-old famous person had nicely and really assumed his duties because the chief of his nationwide workforce, however the expectations from a rustic that demanded success clearly weighed heavy on him. The inevitably of failure was setting in — it marked the third summer season in a row that Argentina misplaced a significant ultimate, beforehand conceding the 2014 World Cup to Germany and the 2015 Copa America to Chile. As stunning as Messi’s retirement was with a number of years forward of him, it was onerous to not purchase his argument — there most likely was nothing else he might do.
And but, the temper was as totally different because it will get on Monday afternoon as Argentina returned to the New York suburbs, the place head coach Lionel Scaloni fielded questions on celebrating Messi’s thirty seventh birthday — and their group stage encounter with Chile on Tuesday on the website of the captain’s lowest level for the nationwide workforce.
“The cups that Chile gained, the cups that we gained … that’s previously,” Scaloni instructed members of the media in his pre-match press convention on Monday. “We live within the current and this workforce is aware of that very nicely. Every match is a unique historical past and we have now to face it because it comes. Earlier titles do not change that.”
For Argentina, it helps that a lot has modified since Messi stop the nationwide workforce. His sabbatical was short-lived — he reversed his resolution that August and stayed the course throughout a couple of bumpy years, ultimately ending his trophy drought with the 2021 Copa America and adopted it up with the 2022 World Cup title. It additionally helps that Messi is one among simply three gamers on the 2024 workforce that additionally took half within the 2016 event. La Albiceleste carry the load of being the world champions nicely largely as a result of they’ve a proficient, multigenerational group that features 26-year-old heart again Cristian Romero and 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho.
That mixture of gamers affords them the label of Copa America favorites, although there’s room for enchancment at this early stage of the event. Argentina dominated of their 2-0 win over Canada on Thursday however left a bit bit to be desired on each ends of the pitch. They took 19 pictures however underperformed on their 3.02 anticipated objectives tally, all whereas letting Canada take 10 pictures at their aim. Scaloni performed his playing cards very near his chest on his tactical plans for Chile, however he did recommend that limiting the opponent’s assault is an space of enchancment after Thursday’s win.
“We’ve a really explicit technique and sport plan and the opponent poses difficulties,” he mentioned. “What we do is attempt to regulate, attempt to keep away from harm to our workforce and we are going to attempt to discover the areas, given the opponent, however the opponent will set the tone of its assault and naturally, we will probably be cautious about that and it is legitimate to take action.”
Scaloni mentioned he and his teaching workers have already got their lineup picked out however he was not simply withholding it from members of the media — the gamers had been unaware of his choices, too. Romero and Lisandro Martinez have been Scaloni’s first decisions at heart again in latest weeks and there is little to recommend they are going to be changed barring health considerations, whereas the pinnacle coach is spoiled for alternative in assault. Julian Alvarez began alongside Messi towards Canada and scored the sport’s opening aim, whereas substitute Lautaro Martinez notched the second and Alexis Mac Allister assisted Alvarez’s effort.
Naturally, although, Messi stays Argentina’s focus, particularly throughout what may very well be his ultimate main worldwide event. He impressed on Thursday with an help on Lautaro Martinez’s aim, demonstrating that he can nonetheless compete at elite ranges even when a ultimate retirement announcement feels proper across the nook. The hopes of a nation appear to carry him fairly than weigh him down, an impact Scaloni mentioned interprets to the workforce as a complete. There is no query that he is a motivating issue for the nationwide workforce and it is clear that Argentina will absorb every remaining second they’ve with Messi, each on the sector and as he blows out the birthday candles on Monday evening.
“I feel that it is crucial to have him right here,” Scaloni mentioned about Messi. “Everybody’s asking in regards to the future, the previous however that is the stunning current … The current is essential. What’s previously is previously and he’s having fun with his birthday. We wish him to have an excellent time.”