- Champions in 2021, Argentina will seek a repeat championship on July 14.
- The opponent will be either Colombia or Uruguay.
Highlights
- Messi scored his first goal in this edition, his 14th career goal.
- As in the World Cup, Julián Álvarez opened the scoring in the Semifinal.
- This is Argentina's fourth final in the last five editions of the tournament.
Canada and Argentina delivered a first half that began chaotically and was equally entertaining: without a midfield, and without the tension that defining matches usually have. The debuting team in this tournament was more dangerous, and the ball was played very close to Emiliano Martínez's goal.
However, Jesse Marsch's team didn't arrive with clarity in those first 20 minutes of slight superiority.
Rodrigo de Paul, from the center circle, clearly saw a pass into space, and Julián Alvarez received it between the two central defenders, controlled it exquisitely, and found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper, a position where the Manchester City forward rarely fails. Just like in the 2022 World Cup Semifinal, it was Julián Álvarez who opened the scoring for Scaloni's team.
From that moment on, Argentina neutralized the Canadian attacks and created good scoring opportunities. Di María was very close to emulating his goal against Brazil in the Final of the CONMEBOL Copa América 2021™. Tagliafico also had his chance. And at the end of the first half, Messi made a move in the area, and his shot went just past the goalkeeper's post.
The last chance of the first half was for Jonathan David, with Canada's first shot on goal in the match. At halftime, Argentina was ahead 1-0.
At the start of the second half, Lionel Messi cut in from the right as he used to do in his early days. Inside the box, he passed to Rodrigo de Paul, and after a rebound, Enzo Fernández shot at the goal. Messi himself deflected it, and after a VAR review, it was confirmed as 2-0 for Argentina, marking Messi's first goal in this edition and his 14th in his Copa América career.
With that comfortable lead, Argentina slowed the game down and made substitutions to refresh the team. Di María also came off, in one of his last matches for the national team.
With two minutes remaining, Canada pressed Argentina's defense well and had their best chance, but Dibu Martínez managed to stop Tani Oluwaseyi's shot.
Argentina won 2-0, advanced to the final, and secured their fifth consecutive podium finish in the world's oldest national team tournament: 2015 (final), 2016 (final), 2019 (third place), 2021 (champions), and it remains to be seen where they will finish in 2024.
Watch goals and match highlights from Argentina 2-0 Canada:
What's Next?
Argentina will play the final of the tournament on July 14 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami against the winner of the Colombia-Uruguay match. Canada will play on July 13 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte against the loser of the aforementioned match.
Lineups and match information
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez y Ángel Di María.
Substitutions used: Nicolás Otamendi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolás González, Lautaro Martínez y Exequiel Palacios,
Cards: Nahuel Molina (yellow)
Coach: Lionel Scaloni
Canada: Maxime Crépeau; Alistair Johnston , Moise Bombito , Derek Cornelius , Alphonso Davies ; Ismael Koné, Stephen Eustaquio, Jacob Shaffelburg ; Jonathan David, Richie Laryea y Cyle Larin.
Substitutions used: Ali Ahmed, Liam Millar, Jonathan Osorio, Mathieu Choinière, Tani Oluwaseyi.
Cards: Jonathan David (yellow), Stephen Eustaquio (yellow)
Coach: Jesse Marsch
Goals: First Half: 22’ Julián Álvarez (A). Second Half: 50’, Lionel Messi (A)
Referee: Piero Maza (CHI)
Stadium: MetLifeStadium – East Rutherford, New Jersey
Superior Player of the Match MICHELOB ULTRA: Lionel Messi (A)
