Emiliano Martinez (7): In the 72nd minute, the 82,000 people who filled the MetLife stadium in New Jersey discovered that Argentina’s goal was occupied by a player wearing green. Until then, Dibu Martínez’s interventions had been with his feet to offer himself as a passing option and to facilitate circulation. But at that precise minute, a shot by Rodrigo Echeverría at the edge of the area showed that the Argentine team had a goalkeeper and that this goalkeeper had been chosen as the best goalkeeper in the last World Cup for a reason. Three minutes later, he stopped another shot with a high degree of difficulty from inside the area, this time by Eduardo Vargas. Fundamental, again: he kept his goal at zero again.
Nahuel Molina (6): With solidity and confidence, he participated with judgment and got involved with passes in pursuit of prolonging possession when the game rested on the right of the Argentine attack. He did not lead noticeable offensive escalations, perhaps overshadowed by a tendency to attack from the left. But from there the play arose that ended up being resolved by his sector, when four minutes into the complement he appeared unmarked as the right pointer, assisted by Messi. The shot had more force than precision. With room for improvement.
Cristian Romero (8): Absolute leader. There is a move that could claim your patent, stamp your signature. It happened thirty minutes into the first half in the rival field. He read the vertical pass, put pressure on the forward who received it with his back turned, removed it and caused an unexpected attack that ended up being diluted because not even his teammates had time to position themselves. A leader, inspiration and spiritual leader of a team that trusts in its defense with him as its standard bearer. Added to his security on the mark is neatness and temperance in the bottom exit. He doesn’t hurry, he doesn’t worry. If Julián Álvarez is the first defender, he is the first attacker. A beast. Second consecrating match: 180 minutes in this Copa América at a very high level.
Lisandro Martinez (7): You know Cuti Romero from the youth teams, when one played in the ’98 category of Belgrano de Córdoba and another in Newell’s. They are friends: they seem to complement and imitate each other. His voracity to recover the ball takes the Argentine positional game to the opposite field. With the ball he is a differential due to his criteria, precision and reading to give meaning to each outing. He had a fascinating preview in midfield and a delightful deception inside his own area. Another solid game to consolidate as the starting 6 and begin to show the world that Argentina has a first-class defense.
Nicolás Tagliafico (6): Without great demands in attack and defense, the full-back who returned to the starting lineup to replace Marcos Acuña, seemed content. He covered up in the offensive aspect to give space to Nico González in his sector. He acted as a link in the chain of passes and always offered to participate in what the play asked for: open on the left, centered or inside the area to take advantage of his sense of smell.
Enzo Fernandez (5): It began to improve as Argentina consolidated its prominence on the field during the first stage. At first he seemed disconnected, without integrating into the game circuit, hidden in an area mined by rivals, trapped near the triangle on the left drawn by Tagliafico, Nico González and Julián Álvarez. When the National Team took over the process, it imposed its rhythm and provided distribution, but just as Paredes did not achieve it in the debut against Canada, he did not provide vision or filtered passes. Two months ago he didn’t play sixty minutes. It was the first change when the team needed another vertigo in attack.
Alexis Mac Allister (6): He regained his position in the centre of play compared to the first match and showed that this is where he feels most comfortable. Always well positioned, always with a tight and secure pass, always offering fluidity and order to the distribution. He grew as the minutes went by.
Rodrigo DePaul (6): What at first seemed to be resolved slowly, without fluidity or too much light, finally ended in another game at a high level. A warrior who grows in adversity and who knows how to balance his debts with substance, confidence and courage. A player who likes to feel and know he is important. He integrated several attacks,
Nicolás González (7): A piston on the left, the nightmare of Mauricio Isla, Chile’s right back. Sharp, decisive, enthusiastic. At times he seemed to have an extra gear, he seemed to run on roller skates. On the outside with his overflows, on the inside with his good interpretations and executions. Energy contribution with technical quality, he sometimes lacked confidence, but he always served to open the court and establish depth on the wings. He was the main offensive weapon of the National Team and a permanent backup wheel in defense. A shot against the crossbar, several overflows, shots into the void. He once again showed a strange sense of smell with scoring chances, he once again needed chalk to improve his definitions.
Lionel Messi (7): A Messi of appearances, of lunges, of moments. The discomfort that he showed during the first half of the game seems to have compromised him throughout the game. His interventions were less compared to other parties but just as decisive. Although unlike the duel against Canada, this time Chile dedicated itself to having it shorter and better surrounded. Photos of him always show him paired with four rivals. A pass with an advantage to Nahuel Molina, a cross as fine as a glove to Alexis, an assist to Nico González in the shot that ended up hitting the crossbar: the play improves when he has it.
Julian Alvarez (6): If he left the field it is because it seems naughty to leave Lautaro Martínez, Calcio’s scorer, on the bench for so much time. He played a match without flaws and with notable technical gestures. He was never a reference for the centre-backs, he always offloaded with fairness and discretion. He provided his intelligence to move along the attack front without rivals being able to identify him. He offered short touches, meaningful passes and displayed his characteristic disdain for high recoveries. He ran for him and for Messi. He moves so much that he escapes the area. He didn’t kick the goal.
Giovanni Lo Celso (6): He took Enzo Fernández’s place on the left of the Argentine attack and was more active and participatory, although he showed more desire than intelligence and decorum.
Lautaro Martínez (7): He came in erratic, with lackluster interventions. A long control inside the area with ten minutes remaining, after a back pass from Messi, exposed him. But goals are loves: he was where forwards like him have to be, waiting to take advantage of any rebound inside the area. He scored the goal that tipped the result in favor of Argentina and that gives him breath and confidence. On the hour mark he was able to score his double but a magnificent response from Bravo denied him the goal.
Ángel Di María (6): He intervened in some offensive actions with wisdom and judgment, he did what the play called for, but he did not end up standing out. The counter he led at the end acted wisely to give it to Lautaro Martínez, who ended up squandering it.
Gonzalo Montiel (-): Entered with five minutes remaining for Nahuel Molina.
Marcos Acuña (-): Came on for Nicolás Tagliafico when the match expired.
