Julius OkorieArgentina are on the verge of winning back to back Copa America title, after the World Cup champions blew away Canada on Tuesday, to reach the final where they will meet either Colombia or Uruaguay.
The defending Copa champions will face the winners of Wednesday’s semi-final between Uruguay and Colombia in what promises to be an explosive encounter in Miami on Sunday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe 15-times Copa champions, who are seeking the 16th, posted a captivating performance in front of a capacity crowd at the 82,500 MetLife Stadium.
Dependable Captain of the side, Lionel Messi, scored the second goal in the 55th minute after Julian Alvarez shot the team into the lead in the 22nd minute. An elated Messi reacted shortly after match as the possibility of lifting yet another trophy beckons.
“The truth is that it’s crazy what this group has done, what the Argentina national team has been doing,” Messi told TyC Sports after his first goal of the tournament.
“It’s not easy for us to be in a final again, for us to compete again to be champions. I’m living it like I lived it in the last Copa America, in the last World Cup…These are the last battles and I’m enjoying them to the maximum,” said the 37-year-old.
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Canada, who surprised many by reaching the last four in their first Copa America appearance, can take great credit for their run in the tournament but Messi and his rampant teammates were simply a step too far.
“I think the tournament caught up with us a little bit,” said Canada’s American coach Marsch, who said he noticed that his players looked tired midway through the first half.
“Eventually the physicality and fatigue can catch up with you and that was a big part of what happened with us tonight,” he added.
While Messi referred to “last battles,” Scaloni and fans hold out hopes Argentina and Messi will return to MetLife for the 2026 World Cup final.
“We will never be the ones to close the door,” Scaloni said. “He can be with our team for as long as he wants to be.”
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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