By Argentina showcased their championship credentials with a commanding 2-0 victory over Canada in the Copa America 2024 semi-final at MetLife Stadium. The win propels the reigning champions into their second consecutive Copa America final, where they will defend their title at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14.
In a rematch of their group stage encounter, Argentina once again proved too strong for Canada. The match began cautiously, with both sides enjoying spells of possession before Argentina asserted their dominance. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Rodrigo De Paul’s precise pass found Julian Alvarez, who calmly slotted the ball past Canadian goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Lionel Messi, who had been relatively quiet in previous matches, found his form and scored his first goal of the tournament five minutes into the second half. The goal came after a defensive error by Canada’s Ismael Kone, with Enzo Fernandez’s shot deflecting off Messi and into the net.
Julian Alvarez justified his inclusion in the starting lineup with a well-taken goal and relentless pressing of the Canadian defense. Lionel Messi looked more comfortable than in previous matches, creating chances and finally opening his goal-scoring account for the tournament. Rodrigo De Paul, despite some sloppy giveaways, provided a crucial assist for the opening goal. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez secured his fourth clean sheet of the tournament, though he was rarely tested.
Manager Lionel Scaloni made effective tactical decisions, particularly in starting Alvarez, which paid dividends early in the match. The reintroduction of Angel Di Maria also seemed to benefit Messi’s performance. Canada, under Jesse Marsch, showed moments of promise but ultimately lacked the final product to trouble Argentina consistently. Their best chance came late in the first half when Jonathan David forced a save from Martinez following a long throw-in.
The match’s comfortable nature allowed Scaloni to rotate his squad in the second half, resting key players ahead of the final. Argentina’s performance addressed concerns raised by their narrow victory over Ecuador in the quarter-finals, showcasing a more fluid and dangerous attack.
As Argentina prepare for their title defense, they will be buoyed by this convincing performance and the return to form of their talismanic captain, Messi. The final at Hard Rock Stadium promises to be a fitting climax to what has been an enthralling Copa America 2024 tournament.
For Canada, the tournament ends with a creditable semi-final appearance, and they will now look ahead to the third-place playoff. Despite the loss, their run to the semi-finals represents significant progress for Canadian soccer on the international stage.
