Like the rest of the ascent, Argentina’s penultimate stride toward a Copa América repeat had a key moment that was straightforward.
It wwas not simple. In the first of two Copa semifinals, the Argentines had to labor, think, and sweat here at MetLife Stadium on a hot Tuesday night. They had to learn to live with the odd early scare.
However, they easily defeated Canada, 2-0, to get to the Sunday final. Their game-winning goal was probably the most understated, straightforward goal Lionel Messi has ever scored—his first of the competition. And they achieved their breakthrough, very literally, halfway through the first half.
Just two passes were needed: one from the center back to the central midfielder, and another from the midfielder to the center forward. The first was innocuous and came from Cristian Romero to Rodrigo De Paul. However, the second discovered Julián Álvarez, Argentina’s slayer of Canada.
He had a great first touch. His second left Moïse Bombito, the Canadian defender, on the grass. With his third, Argentina took the lead over goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.
Read more
Do Americans save enough money for their future?
Instead of stocks and bonds, young Americans are investing in rare cars and sneakers
Three weeks prior, during the 2024 Copa América opening match between these two sides, it was Álvarez who had made his breakthrough. Canada was in Atlanta for forty-eight minutes that night. It lasted just 22 here.
The underdogs were feisty over those twenty-two minutes. They sensed gaps. They leaped over the counter. They made threats.
However, they lacked the agility to seize openings. And they were toast as soon as they gave in. Just before halftime, Messi almost put the Reds to bed with a brilliant feint and a right-footed strike.
He succeeded in burying them about five minutes after the break.
Paradoxically, he scored one of the most goals of his illustrious career at the 2024 Copa América. He passed one to De Paul. He carried on running. He slashed his foot at an Enzo Fernandez shot after playing some penalty-box pinball, and he half-poked, half-caressed it into the net.
Uncertain whether he was onside, he cast a quick check at the assistant referee. However, he was, and with that he leaped tenderly into Enzo’s arms, experiencing an emotion he hadn’t had in an Argentina match since October.
In three previous Copa América 2024 games, he had appeared somewhat insignificant. To be honest, Argentina had too.