Argentina’s Resilient Road to the Copa America Final

Argentina’s journey to the Copa America final has been anything but smooth, according to head coach Lionel Scaloni. After their 2-0 semi-final victory over Canada on Tuesday, Scaloni lauded his players for their resilience and performance.

Despite Canada being ranked 48th in the world, they brought high-energy football and physicality to the match, challenging Argentina at every turn. However, the quality of Argentina’s squad ultimately shone through, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi securing their place in the final. This marks Argentina’s third consecutive major tournament final, following their triumphs at the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America.

“It is extremely tough to reach another final. It is tough because we know how hard it is to get there,” Scaloni told reporters. “The bar has been set very high. Everyone thought it was going to be a bed of roses and it wasn’t like that at all. Canada proved it today by being a very difficult opponent.”

For many of Argentina’s senior squad members, this Copa America might represent their last chance to add another trophy to their collection with the national team. Ángel Di María, 36, announced last year his intention to retire from international football after this tournament. Meanwhile, Messi, 37, and Nicolás Otamendi, 36, are also nearing the end of their illustrious careers.

“You know how I feel about Angel. We don’t want to retire him earlier than needed,” Scaloni said. “We don’t want to feel melancholy. We have to let him play, and then we’ll see if we can convince him or not to stay with us. But so far, he’s here, and he has to be allowed to enjoy this moment.”

Scaloni emphasized a similar sentiment for Messi. “For Leo, it’s similar to Angel. We have to let him be and we will never be the ones to close the door. He can be with our team for as long as he wants to be. And if he wants to retire but still come and hang around, it would be great.”

In the upcoming final on Sunday, Argentina could face either Uruguay, who defeated them in a World Cup qualifier in November, or Colombia, who are on an impressive 27-match unbeaten streak under coach Nestor Lorenzo.

“These two potential opponents are top-notch national teams, but it would be reckless to say that I prefer one or the other,” Scaloni said. “One of them already beat us. It was a very tough match. We have not played against Colombia with this coach, but we know it could be very difficult as well.”

As Argentina prepares for the final, the team’s blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents aims to bring home another Copa America title, cementing their legacy in South American football.