They are the world champions. They won the previous Copa America. They have Lionel Messi. So it should all be wrapped up, no? There are a few questions. Is Messi holding up? Have the vulnerabilities they showed at the World Cup been fixed? And would a Premier League center-back pairing be strong enough?
How to follow Euro 2024 and Copa America on The Athletic…
The Manager
Before the last Copa America in 2021, Lionel Scaloni was an unknown manager to many around the world. Today he’s a world champion and a hero in Argentina. The 46-year-old manager has had a whirlwind three years since leading Argentina to back-to-back international trophies. First, the Copa America in 2021, defeating hosts Brazil in the final, and then the World Cup in 2022, beating France in the final in Qatar.
The elation of Argentina’s World Cup win in 2022 also revealed the stresses that Scaloni had been under. He nearly left the job in 2023, shocking the football world with what sounded like a preemptive resignation after beating Brazil again in November in a 2026 World Cup qualifier. Reports of a rift with Argentine Football Federation (AFA) fueled weeks of speculation regarding Scaloni’s future.
“Argentina needs a coach who has all the energy possible, and who is well,” Scaloni said immediately after the win against Brazil. “I need to stop the ball and start thinking, I have a lot of things to think about during this time.”
Scaloni and AFA are back on positive terms, but the manager’s future beyond this Copa America will hover around the team throughout the tournament. It’s still hard to believe that Scaloni has gone from interim manager to legend in so little time. And yet still, how he ends his tenure this summer could ultimately define his legacy.
Scaloni, right, with Lionel Messi arriving back in Argentina with the World Cup in 2022 (Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images)The household name you haven’t heard of yet
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez is one of Argentina’s most well-known stars. However, River Plate’s Franco Armani, Argentina’s backup to Martinez, was once considered the best goalkeeper in South America. Armani, 37, was also set to be Argentina’s No 1 at the 2022 World Cup.
At the time, Martinez, the Aston Villa No 1 and arguably the best goalkeeper in the Premier League, was behind Armani. But a positive Covid-19 test kept Armani off the pitch at the start of Argentina’s World Cup qualifying campaign in 2021. Martinez stepped in and the rest, as they say, is history. What many outside South America don’t know is that Armani is in the top five of all time in titles won by a goalkeeper.
Armani’s 26 career trophies match those of Keylor Navas and Edwin van der Sar. Only Iker Casillas (27), Gianluigi Buffon (28), Manuel Neuer (32) and Vitor Baia (35) have been more successful. He became a club legend at Atletico Nacional in Colombia after his elite performances helped them win the 2016 Copa Libertadores. For Scaloni, Armani is someone whose name is written in permanent ink anytime an Argentina squad list is released.
Franco Armani and Emiliano Martinez at an Argentina friendly in March (Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)Strengths
As detailed here by The Athletic’s Michael Cox, Argentina were tactically flexible during the 2022 World Cup. It became a strength of Scaloni’s side, one that was able to adjust to each opponent when it mattered most. Scaloni’s willingness to change tactics has clearly paid dividends, but the effectiveness of Argentina’s varied play style comes down to talent.
Argentina’s midfield is among the best in the world. Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister and Rodrigo De Paul are modern midfielders with high work rates. All three are skilled passers and ball progressors. Of course, Lionel Messi, even at 36, is a game-changer. His evolution as a player has coincided with Argentina’s recent success. In spite of his age and gradual loss of speed, Messi can still play a number of positions for Argentina. He remains the side’s most impactful player, too.
Argentina are very comfortable in possession, and unless they face Brazil in the Copa America final, Scaloni’s team is likely to dominate the ball in every match. If they do play on the counter attack, Argentina have players like Julian Alvarez, Messi and full-backs Nahuel Molina and Nico Tagliafico who can run in behind the opposition back line. Couple the tactics with Argentina’s champions mentality, and it’s clear why they’re the current world No 1.
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Weaknesses
The 2022 World Cup proved that Argentina are not a flawless team. They were inconsistent at times and had trouble holding leads. Two years later, Scaloni must address a new problem: age and a lack of speed from his own back line. Tottenham’s Cuti Romero has become one of the best centre-backs in the world. However, his centre-back partner is likely to be Nicolas Otamendi, who is an experienced, strong defender but one who has never been known for his speed. He can get exposed when Argentina plays with a high line.
Scaloni has a soft spot for Real Betis central defender German Pezzella, 32. Pezzella, though, is often the target of quicker forwards. Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez is a player who the whole of Argentina admires, but his fitness remains a major issue. A Premier League centre-back pairing of Romero and Martinez would be fearsome. Also, look out for Fiorentina’s Lucas Martinez Quarta to contribute defensively. The 28-year-old is an aggressive defender who is coming off an impressive year in Serie A.
Lucas Martinez Quarta playing for Fiorentina in May (Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
One other potential weakness is the stress and volatility that surround the world champions. Scaloni, Messi and the rest of the players have handled the highest levels of adversity with aplomb. Can they do it again in 2024?
The thing you didn’t know
Muchachos, the fan-created anthem that defined Argentina’s 2022 World Cup journey in Qatar, remains an iconic song in Argentina. It became so popular in Argentina that it inspired films about the national team’s victory over France in the World Cup final. The song’s original authors are now cult heroes.
What will become Argentina’s title track this summer?
Musically inclined fans in Argentina are busy writing their submissions, hoping that their melodies will be sung by Argentina’s boisterous supporters in stadiums throughout the U.S. this summer. New chants are spreading across social media, with the lyrics that convey a love for Messi, Maradona, Scaloni and Martinez. One thing is certain: there will be a new song dedicated to this Copa America and it’ll grow louder if Argentina advance to the final.
LAS MONJAS CANTANDO “MUCHACHOS” ARGENTINA ES EL MEJOR PAÍS DEL MUNDO EUROPA NO EXISTÍS pic.twitter.com/0Oerf0j92C
— Maximiliano Jozami (@JozamiM) December 17, 2022
Expectations back home
In Argentina, Scaloni’s side are expected to return from the United States with another Copa America trophy. Confidence is sky high as Argentines recognize that the World Cup-winning Albiceleste seem destined for more glory. With this tournament likely a last dance for Scaloni and Messi with Argentina, the three-time world champions will have extra motivation to win back-to-back Copa America titles.
A failure to do so will reignite the debate about Argentina’s need to move on from Messi and his generation (Angel Di Maria has decided he’ll retire from international football after the Copa America). There are some very talented young players who will play key roles leading up the 2026 World Cup. Whether or not Argentina lift the Copa America trophy on July 14 in Miami, the time to refresh the national team has arrived.
Argentina’s Copa America squad (provisional)
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Geronimo Rulli (Ajax), Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa)
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), German Pezzella (Real Betis), Lucas Martinez Quarta (Fiorentina), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), Marcos Acuna (Sevilla), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon), Valentin Barco (Brighton)
Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Leandro Paredes (Roma), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards: Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Valentin Carboni (A.C. Monza), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City)
(Artwork: John Bradford. Photos: Getty; Lintao Zhang, Omar Vega)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5517751/2024/06/13/argentina-copa-america-2024-squad-guide/
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Publish date : 2024-06-13 07:03:47
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