Messi takes center stage again for Copa America 2024
19th June 2024
The Copa America will be held in the USA from 20 June to 14 July 2024.

- Argentina are in Pool A alongside Peru, Chile and Canada.
- Argentina have won the Copa 15 times but only once, in 2021, during the Messi era.
- Argentina know that tough opposition awaits in the knock-out stage with rivals Brazil and Uruguay the two expected challengers for the title.
World champions Argentina get an expanded Copa America underway
on Friday with Lionel Messi looking to add a second continental title in what
is almost certainly his final appearance in the tournament.
The 108-year-old competition is being held in the United
States with the host nation among six teams from the CONCACAF region joining
the 10 South American nations looking for a place in the July 14 final in
Miami.
While FIFA will be looking closely at the organization of
the event, two years out from the World Cup which will be co-hosted by the USA,
Canada and Mexico, the tournament's rich history and prestige means it is much,
much more than a 'trial event'.
Argentina have won the Copa 15 times but only once, in 2021,
during the Messi era and coach Lionel Scaloni has stuck largely with his World
Cup-winning squad, with veterans Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi likely
taking their final bow in a major tournament.
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Whether this is Messi's goodbye to elite international
football remains to be seen – the eight-times Ballon d’Or winner, now playing
in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, will turn 37 four days after
Thursday's opener in Atlanta against Canada and has yet to decide whether he
will try to play in a record sixth World Cup.
"It's great to have records and continue to achieve
things but I won't take part in a World Cup just to say I've done six,"
Messi told ESPN last week.
"If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be
there, fine, but I won't go just to go. It's very difficult to imagine what can
happen because it's still two years away. I don't need to commit right now to
whether or not I'll be there," he added.
What is certain is that Messi, who has managed his workload
to try to be in peak condition for the tournament, would relish the chance to
win a third straight major tournament with his country after so many years of
frustration with his national team.
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After facing Canada, Argentina take on Chile in New Jersey
before finishing their group A action against Peru in Miami but they know that
tough opposition awaits in the knock-out stage with rivals Brazil and Uruguay
the two expected challengers for the title.
Brazil have struggled in CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026
World Cup having won just two of their opening six games and they currently sit
in sixth place in the standings having lost to Uruguay, Colombia and Argentina.
There are several familiar names missing from Dorival
Junior’s Brazil squad with Casemiro,
Gabriel Jesus and Thiago Silva left out while Richarlison and Neymar are both
missing due to injury.
The pressure will be on the Real Madrid attacking pair of
Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo to translate their club form into success for the
Selecao while there is much excitement around the senior tournament debut of
17-year-old talent Endrick, who is set to join Real next month from Palmeiras.
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Uruguay, also 15-times winners, have impressed under their
68-year-old Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa, who has brought his trademark
high-energy style to the team and raised expectations with recent wins over
Argentina and Brazil.
Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez will lead the line although
Bielsa has the option of introducing veteran Luis Suarez from the bench.
Colombia head into the tournament without a loss in over two
years and with Liverpool's livewire winger Luis Diaz a constant threat and
James Rodriguez enjoying a late career revival, Nestor Lorenzo's team can't be
discounted.
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The USA will hope that they can generate some sorely needed
excitement after losing their way since a creditable run to the last-16 at the
World Cup.
Coach Gregg Berhalter is under some pressure to show he can
get his team, which relies on the smart wing play of Christian Pulisic, to
compete with teams from outside of CONCACAF.
Mexico have guested frequently in the Copa in the past and
reached the final in 1993 and 2001, but they look well below their usual level
although they can, as always, count on huge support in the USA.
This is the second time the Copa America is being held in the USA, after the Centenary tournament in 2016, and while that is a break with tradition the presence of significant immigrant communities from all the competing nations, should ensure big crowds at the mostly NFL stadiums being used.
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