Argentina opened their Copa America Campaign with their first match against Colombia. Who could have imagined Argentina to lose 3-0 down despite having the five time Balon d'Or winner on the team. Many have been expectant of the talisman to perform a wonder so as to keep an edge in the group but it was an opposite fulfilment to those expectations.
This is a happy moan day contest organised by pete.
However, there have been critics hovering around with chances stated that the Argentine skipper might not be considered as a Balon d'Or favourite for this year if he doesn't clinch the Copa America cup thereby adding an international trophy to his name. His long time rival Cristiano Ronaldo has already recorded this years Nations League to his name with the Italian league and another domestic trophy too. Alas, Lionel Messi failing to clinch the Copa del Rey and Champions league this year (2019) after losing in the finals and semi finals respectively. The La Liga seems to be the recognised trophy he has to his name. Nevertheless, his personal records (champions league highest goal scorer, la liga top scorer, la liga top assist, European golden boot winner) could secure him a place since probably no one except Fifa can really tell if the major consideration for winning the Balon d'Or is an individual performance or team play(trophy wins). Reference to the 2010, 2013 and 2019 Balon d'Or winners. You got an idea?, educate me please.
However, The Columbia Argentina match was pretty rough as the game ended in a first half goalless run with both team driving to draw the first blood. Since no goal came till the early 70th minute, the referee kept sharing the yellow card like Santa Claus giving out Christmas wish packages. Well, R. Martinez found the back of the net as he gave Columbia the first goal lead in the 76th minute while a substituted D.Zapata made it two for Columbia in the 86th minute after receiving a fine instrumental assist from a substituted J.Lemar. Its the final whistle from the referee and it turned a cold day in hell for the Argentina team. Top stars like Aguero and Di Maria had nothing to offer the Argentine fans as everybody went home faced down and sad.
Lionel Messi who captained the team must have been bashed with massive critics but i believe that's what you get when you are the world best. The burden and expectations comes in folds and bundles and when you don't execute every one of them, the negative critics fuels in.
P.S All hope not lost after the loss but a draw in their second group stage match against Paraguay has now left them in a tight angle that might need mathematical permutations for qualifying from the group stage. All thanks to the Barcelona's superstar penalty that cancelled Richard Sanchez's goal in Bell Horizonte and also Franco Armani(Argentina goalkeeper) who saved Derlis Gonzalez spot kick to enable them preserve their first point of the competition. They'll have to secure a win over Qatar on Sunday to activate the possibility of qualifying for the next stage but still, that might not be enough to aid them through.
Messi sees their exit from the competition in the group stage as crazy as he hopes and believes his team has the confidence to put things right on Sunday. "We have to keep looking for the team and improve. Frankly, it's a little frustrating not being able to get the win we need to take the next step, he told reporters. We knew this would be difficult, we're still looking for the best group, for the best performance, to keep growing, he added."
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