The Copa America will get underway in lower than per week’s time with its contenders placing the ultimate touches on their preparations for the match in america.
Earlier than the primary ball is kicked in Atlanta, Argentina have been dupped the favourites and with good purpose, as La Albiceleste have received the final three tournaments they’ve competed in and the outcomes haven’t slowed down within the meantime.
This peaked in Qatar in December 2022 as Argentina grew to become World Cup champions for the third time. Earlier than that they picked up the CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions at Wembley in 2021 with a 3-0 victory over Italy, with this run beginning in the identical 12 months, beating Brazil 1-0 on their very own turf within the closing of the final version of the Copa America.
This can place a goal on Lionel Scaloni’s group’s backs all through, however with La Scaloneta on a job, can they be stopped?
Earlier Copa America end
Argentina have been winners of the 2020 version of the Copa America, which was performed in Brazil in 2021 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
Profitable this trophy was large for the present group of gamers because it was Lionel Messi’s first along with his nationwide group and it gave Scaloni’s aspect the boldness and perception to go on and obtain what they’ve since.
Argentina topped their group which contained Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia; profitable three of their group section matches and drawing the opposite towards Chile. It was right here that La Albiceleste made their intentions for the competitors recognized and so they acquired higher because the match progressed.
Lionel Messi and buddies would defeat Ecuador 3-0 within the quarter-finals earlier than overcoming Colombia on penalties within the semis. That arrange the ultimate everybody needed as an Angel Di Maria purpose would see Argentina topped champions by beating Brazil on the historic Maracanã Stadium.
Argentina squad
On Could 20, Scaloni named a 29-man squad for Argentina’s pre-tournament friendlies towards Ecuador and Guatemala, which doubles up as a provisional celebration for the Copa America. That panel will must be minimize to 26 gamers earlier than June 15 forward of the match kicking off June 20, which is anticipated to be carried out after the Guatemala conflict. The provisional squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers
Franco Armani (River Plate), Geronimo Rulli (Ajax), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Defenders
Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham), German Pezzella (Actual Betis), Lucas Martinez (Fiorentina), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Valentin Barco (Brighton)
Midfielders
Guido Rodriguez (Actual Betis), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham)
Forwards
Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Valentin Carboni (Monza), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester Metropolis)
Notable absences: The 2 notable absences from Scaloni’s squad are Thiago Almada and Paulo Dybala, who have been in Qatar when the South American nation picked up their third World Cup.
Anticipated beginning 11
It’s not too exhausting to foretell Argentina’s beginning 11 for the match as Scaloni is a supervisor who is aware of what his greatest group appears to be like like.
Argentina typically line-up in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation and the next group is what is anticipated when the defending champions kick the match off towards Canada on June 20 in Atlanta.
It’s unsure whether or not the Argentine boss will go together with Man Metropolis’s Julian Alvarez up entrance or Inter’s Lautaro Martinez however following the marketing campaign the Serie A striker has skilled, it might be tough to go away the 26-year-old out of the beginning 11.
Key participant
Lionel Messi
It goes with out saying who Argentina’s key man is heading into the Copa America this summer time, regardless of the person turning 37 through the match.
Lionel Messi continues to be top-of-the-line gamers on the planet and is greater than able to nonetheless having the ability to compete in Europe’s high 5 leagues, however having achieved every thing within the sport he has determined to wind down his profession within the stunning metropolis of Miami along with his greatest buddies by his aspect.
The Argentina captain has not slowed down within the MLS this season, producing an unimaginable 14 objectives and 11 assists throughout 15 matches in all competitions for Inter Miami.
The Barcelona legend was essential in Argentina profitable the World Cup and Copa America over the past three years, with the ahead producing seven objectives and three assists in Qatar, whereas guiding his nation to victory in Brazil with 4 objectives and 5 assists.
Not like previous Argentina groups, Lionel Scaloni’s males usually are not overly reliant on Messi anymore; however the 36-year-old continues to be their key participant and if he performs at his greatest in america this summer time, the best participant of all of them might be getting his fingers on a second Copa America crown.
Predicted end
Taking all this under consideration, Argentina ought to finish their Copa America marketing campaign as champions. Nonetheless, it won’t be simple as there are a variety of sturdy groups within the competitors and Scaloni’s males don’t have the motivation of by no means profitable the trophy earlier than.
The defending champions have a pleasant path to the ultimate ought to every thing go as deliberate, with Mexico, Ecuador, and Uruguay/Brazil being the doable route within the closing.
Argentina are nonetheless one of the best group in South America and have the most important game-changer of all of them in Messi. Ought to La Albiceleste play to their potential, it’s exhausting to not see them profitable back-to-back Copa America crowns this summer time.
