Football

Defending champions Argentina kicked off their Copa America campaign with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Canada in Atlanta on Thursday. The match was a tale of two halves, with Canada impressing in the first half but Argentina dominating the second.Canada started the match brightly, pressing high and creating several chances. Alphonso Davies was a constant threat down the left flank, while Jonathan David and Cyle Larin both had good opportunities to score. However, Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was in fine form, making several key saves to keep his team in the game.Argentina gradually grew into the match and began to create chances of their own. Lionel Messi was at the heart of everything, and he played a sublime pass to Alexis Mac Allister in the 49th minute. Mac Allister rounded Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and slotted the ball into an empty net to give Argentina the lead.Canada pushed hard for an equalizer, but Argentina's defense held firm. Nicolas Otamendi, who came on as a substitute in the second half, added some much-needed stability to the backline. In the 88th minute, Messi played another inch-perfect pass, this time to Lautaro Martinez, who made no mistake from close range to seal the victory for Argentina.The win was a hard-fought one for Argentina, but it was a deserved one. They showed their class in the second half, and they will be confident of going all the way in this tournament. Canada, on the other hand, will be disappointed with the result, but they can take heart from their performance in the first half. They have a talented squad, and they will be hoping to make a deep run in the Copa America.

Copa America 2023: Argentina Aim for Continental Glory Amidst Messi's Farewell TourThe 108-year-old Copa America kicks off on Thursday in the United States, with world champions Argentina seeking their second continental title in what could be Lionel Messi's final appearance in the tournament.Argentina, 15-time Copa America winners, have assembled a squad largely unchanged from their World Cup-winning team. Veterans Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi are likely making their final major tournament appearances.Messi, now 36, has yet to decide if he will participate in a record sixth World Cup in 2026. However, he is determined to make the most of this Copa America, having won it only once in 2021.Argentina face Canada, Chile, and Peru in Group A. However, they anticipate stiff competition in the knockout stages, with Brazil and Uruguay emerging as the primary challengers.Brazil, despite recent struggles in World Cup qualifiers, boast a talented squad led by Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo. Uruguay, under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, have impressed with recent victories over Argentina and Brazil.Colombia, unbeaten in over two years, pose a threat with Luis Diaz and James Rodriguez in their ranks. The United States, hosting the tournament for the second time, hope to generate excitement after a disappointing World Cup performance.The Copa America 2023 promises to be a captivating spectacle, showcasing the best of South American football and providing a glimpse of the future stars of the game.

The Copa America, South America's premier international football tournament, is set to return in 2024 with a captivating lineup of teams and a rich history. The tournament will feature 16 nations, including 10 from the CONMEBOL confederation and 6 from the CONCACAF confederation.Argentina and Uruguay stand as the most successful teams in Copa America history, each having won the championship 15 times. However, the tournament has also witnessed the rise of other formidable teams, such as Brazil, Chile, and Colombia.In the 2024 edition, two countries from CONMEBOL, Ecuador and Venezuela, will be aiming to break their Copa America title droughts. Ecuador has never won the tournament, while Venezuela's best result was a fourth-place finish in 2011.Canada, a member of the CONCACAF confederation, will make its debut in the Copa America in 2024. The Canadians will be eager to prove their mettle against the best teams in South America.Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine forward, holds the record for the most appearances in Copa America history. He has played in 16 matches, scoring 13 goals and providing 11 assists.The 1959 Copa America holds a unique distinction as the only edition to have been played twice. Argentina and Ecuador hosted the tournament in different years, with Argentina emerging victorious on both occasions.In 1987, Carlos Valderrama of Colombia became the first player to receive the official Best Player of the Tournament award. Since then, the award has been given to some of the most iconic players in South American football, including Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Neymar.Dunga of Brazil holds the unique distinction of winning the Copa America both as a player and a coach. He led Brazil to victory in 1989 and 1997 as a player, and again in 2007 as a coach.The 2024 Copa America promises to be an unforgettable spectacle, showcasing the passion, skill, and rivalry that have made South American football so beloved around the world.

Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho has sent shockwaves through the nation by announcing his "abandonment" of the Selecao, citing the team's dismal performance and lack of leadership.Ronaldinho, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, expressed his disappointment in an Instagram post, stating, "This is a sad moment for those who love Brazilian football. It's difficult to find the energy to watch the games. This is perhaps one of the worst teams in recent years, it has no respectable leaders, just average players for the most part."Brazil, the most successful team in FIFA World Cup history with five titles, has struggled to replicate its past glory since its triumph in 2002. Their best result since then was a fourth-place finish in the 2014 World Cup, marred by the humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany.Ronaldinho's criticism comes as the Selecao prepares for the upcoming CONMEBOL Copa America tournament. Despite boasting talented players like Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, the team has failed to impress in recent outings."I've been following football since I was a child, long before I thought about becoming a player, and I've never seen a situation as bad as this," Ronaldinho lamented. "The shirt lacks love, lacks determination, and most important of all: football."The veteran star declared his intention to boycott the Copa America, stating, "I will not watch any CONMEBOL Copa America game, nor celebrate any victory."Ronaldinho's comments have sparked a heated debate in Brazil, with some fans supporting his stance while others criticize his timing. However, his words serve as a stark reminder of the challenges facing Brazilian football and the need for a comprehensive overhaul.

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, has announced that he will not participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics. In an interview with ESPN, Messi explained that his decision was based on his age and the demanding schedule of the upcoming Copa America and World Cup.Messi, who turns 37 in June, acknowledged that his age is a factor in his decision. "At my age, I don't want to play everything and I need to make the right choices," he said. The Copa America, which will be held in the United States from June 20 to July 14, will be a major test for Argentina, and Messi wants to focus on that tournament.The Olympics, which start on July 26, would have been a significant challenge for Messi, who has already won a gold medal with Argentina in 2008. However, the tight schedule between the Copa America and the Olympics would have put a strain on his body."It's a difficult moment, because there's the Copa America, and that would mean two or three consecutive months away from my club," Messi said. "I need to make the right choices."Messi's decision not to participate in the Olympics does not mean that he is retiring from international football. He has expressed his desire to play in the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico."I won't take part in a World Cup just to say I've done six," Messi said. "If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, fine, but I won't go just to go."Messi's decision is a blow to Argentina's Olympic hopes, but it is understandable given his age and the demanding schedule of the upcoming tournaments. The Argentine legend will continue to focus on his club career with Inter Miami and on leading his country to success in the Copa America and the World Cup.

The United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) rebounded from their humiliating 5-1 defeat to Colombia with a morale-boosting 1-1 draw against Brazil in their final warm-up match before the Copa America.Despite facing calls for his resignation after the Colombia debacle, USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter challenged his players to deliver an improved performance against the five-time World Cup winners. The team responded with a determined display, earning their first-ever draw against Brazil after 18 previous defeats.US goalkeeper Matt Turner was the hero for the hosts, making several crucial saves to keep Brazil at bay. At the other end, Brazil keeper Alisson twice denied potential winning goals for the United States late in the game.Christian Pulisic, the US captain, equalized for his team in the first half with a rasping free-kick after Brazil had taken the lead through Real Madrid striker Rodrygo.In the second half, Brazil continued to threaten, but the US held firm and came close to snatching a victory. A counter-attack culminated with Weston McKennie finding Pulisic in space inside the area, but the US captain's shot was saved by Alisson."It's obviously a huge bounce-back performance for us from the other day," said Turner, referring to the Colombia rout. "I think what we did today can sort of put that to bed."Turner believes the result bodes well for the USA's Copa America campaign, where they face Bolivia, Panama, and Uruguay in the first round."I think the huge positive from today is to take like a triumph from it," Turner said. "We really stared into the face of adversity and were able to bounce back a few days later.""In tournament play, that's so, so important, because not every result, not every call is gonna go your way and you have to be able to put things behind you, move on, and put the next foot in front of the other."

Argentina's Copa America preparations got off to a winning start as they edged past Ecuador 1-0 in a friendly encounter in Chicago. Angel Di Maria, donning the captain's armband in Lionel Messi's absence, proved to be the match-winner, scoring the solitary goal in the 40th minute.The game began with both teams showing attacking intent, but it was Argentina who took the lead through a moment of brilliance. Rodrigo De Paul's incisive pass found Cristian Romero in an advanced position, and the Tottenham defender executed a superb reverse pass to Di Maria. The veteran winger made no mistake, slotting the ball past Ecuador goalkeeper Hernan Galindez.Ecuador responded well to the setback and created several chances of their own. However, Argentina's defense, marshaled by Nicolas Otamendi and Lisandro Martinez, stood firm. Di Maria made way for Messi in the 56th minute, but the Inter Miami star was unable to add to the scoreline.Argentina continued to dominate possession but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Ecuador, on the other hand, showed glimpses of their attacking potential, but their finishing let them down. The game ended 1-0, giving Argentina a morale-boosting victory ahead of the Copa America.The reigning world champions will face Guatemala in their final friendly before the tournament kicks off on June 20. They will be looking to build on their performance against Ecuador and fine-tune their preparations for the defense of their Copa America crown.

United States coach Gregg Berhalter expressed severe disappointment and accused his players of lacking respect after Colombia's emphatic 5-1 friendly victory on Saturday. The South Americans ruthlessly exploited American blunders, leaving Berhalter aghast at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.Jhon Arias and Rafael Borre gave Colombia a 2-0 lead within 19 minutes. Despite Timothy Weah's goal in the 58th minute, "Los Cafeteros" continued their relentless attack, scoring three unanswered goals through Richard Rios, Jorge Carrascal, and Luis Sinisterra.The rout marked the first time the US had conceded five goals in a game since their 5-0 defeat to Mexico in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup final. Berhalter's side could have faced an even worse fate, as Colombia squandered several other scoring opportunities."I'm really disappointed, obviously with the result," Berhalter said. "We're not framing it as a lesson learned, we're framing it as a wake-up call. A really poor performance against a top team."Berhalter criticized his team's lack of respect for the opponent and the game itself, particularly in the final 15 minutes. "If you give a team like that the opportunities that we gave them, you're going to have no chance to win," he said.Despite some positive moments, Berhalter acknowledged that the 5-1 scoreline was unacceptable. "There were some positive chunks of the game, right. But when I'm looking right now at 5-1, it's not good enough."Berhalter fielded a starting lineup comprised entirely of players from Europe's top five leagues in preparation for their Copa America Group C opener against Bolivia on June 23. However, Colombia's early dominance threatened to overwhelm the US.Arias opened the scoring after just six minutes, capitalizing on a defensive error by Antonee Robinson. Borre doubled Colombia's lead with an overhead kick on 19 minutes.Weah's goal gave the US hope, but Rios's goal in the 77th minute put Colombia back in control. Carrascal and Sinisterra added late goals to seal the emphatic victory.The US will continue their Copa America preparations with a friendly against Brazil on Wednesday.

Argentina, the reigning World Cup and Copa America champions, have announced their 29-man squad for upcoming friendly matches against Ecuador and Guatemala. The team, led by captain Lionel Messi, will use these matches as preparation for the Copa America tournament, which will be held in the United States from June 20 to July 14.The squad includes 22 of the 26 players who won the World Cup in Qatar, including Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Rodrigo De Paul. Notable absentees include Paulo Dybala, Juan Foyth, and Thiago Almada.Argentina will face Ecuador on June 9 at Chicago's Soldier Field and Guatemala on June 14 at Landover, Maryland. These matches will provide valuable experience for the team as they prepare for the Copa America, where they will be aiming to defend their title.In the Copa America, Argentina will open their campaign against Canada or Trinidad and Tobago on June 20 in Atlanta. They will then face Chile on June 25 in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Peru on June 29 in Miami Gardens, Florida.Argentina is the most successful team in Copa America history, having won the tournament 15 times. They will be looking to add to their tally and cement their status as the dominant force in South American football.