06/19/2024 5:25 p.m.Updated on 06/19/2024 5:52 p.m.
The Argentine National Team is already finalizing details to face the debut of the Copa América 2024, which will be this Thursday, June 20, against Canada in the city of Atlanta, United States. In that sense, this Wednesday Both Lionel Scaloni and Leandro Paredes, whom the coach himself confirmed as the starter, held a press conference prior to the match.
“I think the challenge is always very nice. Facing a Copa América, a competition as important as this one is, for us being the Argentine National Team and representing an entire country… Hopefully tomorrow we will start on the right foot,” Paredes initially maintained, who will be number 5 against Canada as he did in the debuts of the Copa América 2021 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Regarding how he sees Canada, Paredes maintained that they face all rivals in the same way: “For us, any rival is the same, we try to represent the National Team in the best way, we try to face each game with our ideas, with the coach’s ideas to obtain the results we are looking for. Obviously each rival has its good side and its bad side, we try to take advantage of all that, but, as I said just now, we try to face each game with our ideas.”
The Roma midfielder, who stated that “the most important thing is to always be 100 percent,” also highlighted the presence of Alejandro Garnacho and Valentín Carboni, two of the Europibes who will play in a competition for the first time with the Argentine National Team: ” I see both of them very well, they have a very great future ahead of them, I hope they continue growing, continue learning, “Let them continue with this mentality that they have, which will surely make them grow a lot and hopefully we can make them feel comfortable alongside us.”
Paredes at a press conference. (Photo: Mati Arrascoyta)
“For my part, I think that the main thing is the mentality, wanting to continue competing, being at 100 percent, wanting to continue achieving important things. It is no wonder with this National Team, with this shirt: We have a National Team with incredible players and extraordinary people. We are enjoying everything we are experiencing and what we have left to experience,” Paredes commented.
“We’ve seen a little bit of Canada in videos. “We know the difficulty of these types of matches so we will face this match tomorrow at 100×100,” added the midfielder, who also acknowledged that he feels “emotionally very good and football-wise very good.”
The one who emerged in Boca also highlighted that they do not feel pressured to obtain the trophy: “We do not feel pressure, we feel that it is a nice challenge to face. We know how important it is. We think about starting the Copa América in the best way, competing, being at the best level and if we have to win the title it will be important.”
Finally, he left a message to the fans: “They are the strength for us, to continue being at the level of the National Team. “We are grateful for all the love they give us and we are happy that they feel represented by us and we hope to be on par with the entire country.”
Leandro Paredes, at a press conference. (Photo: Mati Arrascoyta)
Copa América 2024: the calendar of the Argentine National Team
Date 1 | 06/20: Argentina vs. Canada | 9:00 p.m. | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (televised by TV Pública, Telefé, TyC Sports and DSports 1610).
Date 2 | 06/25: Argentina vs. Chile | 10:00 p.m. | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey (televised by TV Pública, Telefé, TyC Sports and DSports 1610).
Date 3 | 06/29: Argentina vs. Peru | 9:00 p.m. | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami (televised by TV Pública, Telefé, TyC Sports and DSports 1610).
The last five games of the Argentine National Team
11/21/23: Brazil 0-1 Argentina | Qualifiers
03/22/24: Argentina 3-0 El Salvador | Friendly
03/26/24: Argentina 3-1 Costa Rica | Friendly
06/09/24: Argentina 1-0 Ecuador | Friendly
06/14/24: Argentina 4-1 Guatemala | Friendly
