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“The truth is it was a difficult match, which was very hard to play,” Messi added. “We knew it was going to be that way because they’re a great team, a hard team who press well, who have intense, dynamic players, a bit fast and when they have the ball they do damage as well. We expected this kind of game and the important thing is (that you win).”
Emi Martinez was once again Argentina’s saviour during a shootout (Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images)
On the conditions of the pitch at Houston’s NRG Stadium, Messi said: “The pitch always has an influence. It’s a reality that the pitches (at the Copa America) aren’t good.
“Now, we return to New York, where we played against Chile, which also wasn’t so good. I think the best one was the one in Miami, which was good from what you saw from the outside at least. It’s natural and that’s already different.
“Of course, it has an influence, but apart from that we had a great team in front of us who work a lot, who have great players who play very well. And that meant it was more difficult.”
Messi’s Argentina will play either Venezuela or Canada in their Copa America semi-final, which will take place at MetLife Stadium next Tuesday.
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(Top photo: Logan Riely/Getty Images)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5618473/2024/07/05/lionel-messi-injury-copa-america-argentina/
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Publish date : 2024-07-05 11:58:24
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