The Argentine National Team, current champion of America and the World, once again travels the path of glory. Of course, a continental tournament is not worth the same as a World Cup. But win one America Cup It is not a simple procedure: in fact, it took the National Team 28 years to do it again and they were only able to do it in 2021, in Brazil and against Brazil. Now a portion of that glory is at stake. And the revalidation will begin this Thursday when from 9 p.m. and with television from Public TV, Telefé, TyC Sports and D Sports, the team captained by Lionel Messi and directed by Lionel Scaloni faces Canada at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in the city of Atlanta (Georgia), in the match that will open a new edition of the oldest national team tournament in the world.
The Copa América will also serve to renew the exceptional emotional bond that unites the Argentine National Team with its fans. True “people’s team” (a definition that perhaps corresponds to other times), The light blue and white t-shirt is one of the few reasons for pride and encounter that remain in a country crossed by disagreements.. As in 2021 in the midst of the pandemic, There are millions of Argentinians who, saturated with bad news, tired of having such a bad time, want to take to the streets again to celebrate something great.. And they hope that on the night of Sunday, July 14, after the grand final has been played, Lionel Messi, Draw Martínez and the rest of the players will give them the reason to do so.
It won’t be easy, Argentina is a candidate. But so are Brazil, which presents a dazzling squad, Uruguay, which wants to be champion again with a team renewed by Marcelo Bielsa, and Colombia, which arrives with a squad of great values led by the Argentine Néstor Lorenzo. That is a fact about this Cup: Of the 16 selected participants, seven will be led by Argentine coaches. In addition to Scaloni, Bielsa and Lorenzo, Daniel Garnero (Paraguay), Ricardo Gareca (Chile) will be in charge. Fernando Batista (Venezuela) and Gustavo Alfaro (Costa Rica). That means something.
The National Team has something to support its claims. Of course: Messi plays. and although the Rosario supercrack is going to turn 37 in five days and is going through the final stages of a unique career, he still has glimpses of his genius to give. At any moment with their magical left foot they can exploit the inspiration of an unstoppable shot or a brilliant pass to Angel Di Mariawho will be playing his last international tournament with the National Team, Lautaro Martínezthe great scorer of the Italian Serie A, or Julian Alvarez, the spare wheel of the entire attack. For steering wheels that come loose and step on the area like Rodrigo de Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac allister or Gio Lo Celso, who returns to the squad after missing the World Cup in Qatar due to an untimely injury. Or for laterals who almost always pass as Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Tagliafico and Marcos Acuña.
It seems that Argentina retains intact the hunger for glory and the style that propelled it to win the World Cup. In these two years, it has not shown premature signs of gentrification. In the Qualifiers, the National Team performed well, winning as visitors in Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. Now he won’t be able to let up. The group stage with Canada, Chile (Tuesday the 25th in New Jersey) and Peru (Saturday the 29th in Miami) seems to be accessible although the games always have to be played. And also the rooms, where it could intersect with Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and Jamaica. Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia await only from the semifinals. There will be another song.
A new Copa América begins, its 48th edition since the first version in 1916. And Argentina is going for the fourth two-time championship in its history (1927-29, 1957-59 and 1991-93 were the previous ones) and its 16th continental title. There are millions of Argentines who want to continue celebrating. They feel the National Team as something of their own. There may be no greater motivation than that to go out on the field and win.
