For long stretches of its 2024 Copa América opener, Argentina looked shaky. The defending champions — of South America, and of the world — labored at times during a battle with Canada. They played some fluid, dynamic fútbol, but also some very lax soccer. At halftime, they very easily could have been behind.
But four minutes into an action-packed second half, Lionel Messi unlocked Canada — with a pass that was either ingenious or inadvertent.
Did he see Alexis Mac Allister, and feed the midfielder’s run? Or was he looking for Julián Álvarez’s feet, before Álvarez ran elsewhere? The answer hardly matters. Only the conclusion does. Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau clattered into Mac Allister, who’d latched onto Messi’s pass. Crépeau’s foul would have yielded a penalty, but Álvarez rendered that unnecessary.
In the waning minutes, Messi undressed Canada again. Lautaro Martinez finished. And Argentina exhaled.
Martinez’s 88th-minute goal sealed a 2-0 Argentina victory in Thursday’s opener. But it — and the flurry of chances that Argentina created and missed in the second half — also masked an imperfect performance.
In the end, Argentina deserved its victory. Messi and Co. are well on their way to the tournament’s knockout rounds after just one night. But they benefitted from Canadian misses and good fortune. They are, on Matchday 1, not yet in top gear.
So they will surely have to improve to defend their title captured three years ago in Brazil. They will need to prove that their core has not aged to the dark side of its peak.
You can relive Thursday’s game as it happened below.
LIVE COVERAGE IS OVER47 updates
-
FINAL: Argentina 2-0 Canada
The reigning champs sit atop Group A with 3 points!
-
-
-
Martinez puts Argentina up 2-0 after another crisp assist from Messi!
-
Canada’s substitutions for the final 10 minutes or so of the match: Richie Laryea on for Cyle Larin, Jacen Russell-Rowe for Liam Millar and Jonathan Osorio for Ismael Kone.
-
Bombito’s slide tackle had Messi writhing in pain on the field, but he’s back up and back in action after a brief pause in action.
-
Tons of chances, still 1-0 — somehow
After the latest missed chance, Lionel Messi went down.
Canadian center back Moïse Bombito flew into a tackle, and caught Messi flush in the ankle.
Messi is up now, but limping. He’ll likely stay in, but that’ll hurt. And it was scary.
-
Messi gets another 1-on-1 but once again misses the target
-
Substitutions Nos. 2 & 3 for Argentina with Nicolas Otamendi replacing Leandro Paredes and Lautaro Martinez coming in for Julian Alvarez. Earlier, Canada’s Jacob Shaffelburg replaced Tajon Buchanan.
-
-
Canada howls for a penalty…
Jacob Shaffelburg dipped past an Argentine defender into the big, and got taken down.
The referee seemed to bring his whistle halfway to his mouth … then didn’t bring it all the way.
On replay: It was absolutely a foul, but probably just outside the box, so there’s nothing the VAR could do.
-
Scaloni makes the first substitution for Argentina as Giovani Lo Celso replaces Angel Di Maria.
-
Chances at both ends!
Remember when Pelé wowed at the World Cup even when he sent shots wide? Messi just did something similar. He sat two Canadian players down with one feint on a break, and nearly scooped the ball into a gaping net, but his clever shot was blocked.
At the other end, Jonathan David just flashed a header a few yards high and wide.
Still 1-0 to Argentina.
-
Messi magic still loading …
-
Di Maria a tad bit late here:
-
On Argentina’s goal: Messi magic? Or a bit of good fortune?
To the untrained eye, Argentina’s goal was the umpteenth example of Lionel Messi’s greatness. His through-ball to Alexis Mac Allister was one that nobody else on the field could see.
But I’m not sure Messi saw it either.
He seemed to be looking for Julian Álvarez’s feet. Alvarez, though, made a diagonal run, so Messi’s pass went into no-man’s land … which Mac Allister happened to be running into.
*whispers*
I don’t think Messi meant this.
He was looking for Julian Álvarez’s feet. Alvarez made a different run. Mac Allister just happened to be running into the space where the pass ended up. pic.twitter.com/5S95v4gUXA
— Henry Bushnell (@HenryBushnell) June 21, 2024
-
The 24-year-old Álvarez continues to do his part for the Albiceleste
-
Argentina breakthrough!
Messi to Mac Allister, who gets cleaned out by Canadian keeper Maxime Crépeau.
It would’ve been a penalty, but Mac Allister’s touch fell right to Julian Álvarez, who finished well.
1-0 to Argentina.
-
Second half starts now after a longer-than-usual halftime (20+ minutes).
-
Can Canada hold on?
In Canada’s two pre-tournament friendlies, they also held elite opponent scoreless for 45 minutes.
In the first, they got blown out by the Netherlands after halftime and lost, 4-0.
In the second, they held on for a 0-0 draw with France.
This third such game could really go either way. (Or, it could very easily go to Canada.)
