Argentina Defeats Canada 2-0 in Copa América Opener: Lionel Scaloni Criticizes Playing Field Conditions

20 Jun, 2024 11:38 pm EST

Copa América 2024 – Argentina Canada – Summary

The Argentine team beat Canada 2-0 in the opening match of the Copa América and carried out a complicated match at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to begin in the best way the defense of the crown achieved in the last edition held in Brazil.

In a press conference, Lionel Scaloni touched on different topics, analyzed the crossing in Atlanta and criticized the conditions of the playing field when he was asked if he saw any parallels with what the match was compared to the debut in the 2022 World Cup: “Yes, It looked like Arabia with the difference that we played there on a decent field. With all due respect, I want to clarify this. Thank goodness we won because otherwise it would have been a cheap excuse to sit here and say this. We have known for seven months that we are going to play here and they changed the grass two days ago. It’s not good for the show, sorry. It is not an excuse. The stadium is beautiful and with the synthetic grass it must be spectacular, but with today’s grass… Honestly, it is not suitable for this type of players.”

Next, he was asked again about the dilemma he faces in each match to choose between Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez with the particularity that both scored in the debut for Group A: “We seek balance. We are a team that needs it. Who wouldn’t like both of them to play, Leo, Ángel and I defend… It’s reality, it is what it is. They understand it, they are the first to do it. It hurts because they are two top-level forwards, but they are very clear about it. If you find the solution, it would be good if you tell me.”

Later, he left a message to journalists in reference to this topic: “The entire Cup will be like this, guys. I hope it’s until the end. If nothing strange happens, it will be your question in all the press conferences.”

On the other hand, he was questioned about the only ritual he has before starting each match as a national coach: “Am I a cabulero? I thought maybe you had seen something… No, the only thing I have is that I enter on the right foot. I’ve been doing it since I’ve been playing football and I never stop doing it no matter what the result.”

Argentina defeated Canada in the premiere of the Copa América (REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)

In addition, he highlighted the victory in what was his first debut with victory in a major competition as coach of the Albiceleste: “Always winning reinforces a lot of things. Yesterday, I said that Canada was a good rival, complicated and a good test. The best we can think is that the test was spectacular, it was won and, from now on, a new Copa América begins. “It is always better to win.”

On the other hand, Scaloni referred to the team’s irregular start during the initial stage: “I prepared the game to receive between the lines with Alexis (Mac Allister), Leo (Messi), Ángel (Di María) and the field was not there for that. They didn’t feel safe, we couldn’t filter that pass and the only thing we had was outside with the fullbacks. To find them higher up, we decided to bring in Leandro (Paredes) to make a three-man start with the center backs. It cost Canada a little more and it was the best of the team in those minutes.”

After that good start to the match, he pointed out that the duel “entered into a complicated dynamic” and added: “We had to dig in and close out the game. In the end, that’s what it’s all about. Beyond that when you can’t, sometimes the rival won’t let you. In this case, the rival and the court. And we had to play differently. The important thing is that it was won.” “I also don’t emphasize that we weren’t playing well, because the reality is that there wasn’t much more that could be done with the conditions of the field,” he said.

Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference (REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian)

Lionel Scaloni praised the personality of his team to face the commitment: “The important thing is that the team is there no matter what the game is like. He responds in one way or another with an ugly, strange game… The boys always do what is asked of them, they create scoring situations, they defend like lions, that leaves you alone. The negative, I would like to analyze well the situations they have had to try to correct them, but I have to see them well to make decisions. We played a game according to how the playing field was and what the rival presented.”

In a different sense, he was asked again about the stadium grass and explained where he noticed the problems of the field where Atlanta United is home in the MLS: “Look at the passing speed of our centre-backs… It is a field that Two days ago it was synthetic and they can’t put 100 meters of grass together. They have to put them in little by little… I think it’s even painted so that it doesn’t show.” “I imagine that the other fields will be fine, but the strange thing is that we have been playing in this stadium for six months. Maybe something could have been done sooner and not against the clock. We can’t do anything about this,” he concluded.

2024-06-21 04:38:00
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