Canada’s head coach, Jesse Marsch, has acknowledged the challenge of facing Lionel Messi and Argentina in the upcoming Copa América semifinal. Marsch emphasized the importance of not allowing Messi to have the same freedom he had in their previous encounter. The defensive plan revolves around limiting Messi’s space and tracking his movements effectively without resorting to man-marking. Marsch recognizes Messi as the greatest player ever and views the opportunity to play against him as a privilege.
On the other side, Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, is confident in Messi’s capabilities and influence on the team’s offense. Having Messi in the starting 11 boosts the morale of the Argentine players and poses a significant challenge for Canada. The previous 2-0 victory over Canada in the tournament opener holds little significance as both teams prepare for a different encounter in the semifinal. Scaloni acknowledges Canada’s physical and technical strengths, as well as their aggressive style of play.
Canada’s path to the semifinal involved a hard-fought victory against Venezuela in a penalty shootout, showcasing their resilience and determination. Similarly, Argentina had to overcome Ecuador in a shootout to secure their spot in the final four. Both teams have shown their ability to compete under pressure and are now focused on advancing to the final on July 14th.
The winner of the semifinal between Canada and Argentina will advance to face either Uruguay or Colombia in Miami, Florida for the Copa América final. The prospect of competing for the championship title adds extra motivation for both teams. On the other hand, the losing team will have to settle for the third-place match in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The Copa América semifinal between Canada and Argentina promises to be a battle of contrasting strategies and strengths. While Canada aims to contain Messi and disrupt Argentina’s attack, Argentina looks to capitalize on Messi’s brilliance and secure a spot in the final. The outcome of this highly anticipated match will determine which team moves one step closer to lifting the prestigious Copa América trophy.
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