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Argentina didn’t play like the 2024 Copa America champions tonight — they barely played like winners of their quarterfinal match against Ecuador. Despite the seemingly positive result, Argentina are lucky to escape with their 1-0 draw. They were outdueled, outpassed, outmatched in intensity, technique, and more.
But, of course, it would be a typical Scaloni victory. A patient buildup, dominant possession, and a compact defense. It helped them win the 2021 Copa America the 2022 World Cup, and potentially, now the 2024 Copa America title.
Until it wasn’t. Kevin Rodriguez swooped in with one of the more memorable strikes of the tournament, connecting with a John Yeboah cross and finessing his header just enough to nestle it in the bottom left corner. Ecuador forced penalty kicks with minutes to spare and nearly won it with seconds left after a pair of dangerous counter-attacks.
And then, it was again. Emiliano Martinez showed up in penalties, as he always does. The Aston Villa stopper saves two of Ecuador’s four penalties, adding in some salacious celebrations while he’s at it. Nicolas Otamendi dominantly closes out the shootout. He blasts his penalty into the top left corner, wheeling off to celebrate with supporters in dominant fashion. This — not the refereeing controversies, not the comically small pitches — this is Copa America.
Before the game, there was doubt that Argentina’s most important piece in their Copa America repeat, Lionel Messi, would even show up. Messi missed Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru on Saturday, and gaffer Lionel Scaloni marked the talismanic playmaker as day-to-day before the start.
Nonetheless, a not-fully-fit Messi returned to the starting eleven, along with an all-star roster of elite players. A lineup with the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Julián Alvarez, and Enzo Fernandez faced an Ecuador squad tipped to make a deep run in the tournament. They’d had trouble with them in a June friendly, narrowly…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america/argentina-barely-hangs-on-in-shootout-win-over-ecuador/
Author : Deolu Akingbade
Publish date : 2024-07-05 04:02:22
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