06.30 CEST
The sad part is that we’re going to have an anxious wait now to hear about injuries inside and outside the stadium. How seriously is Messi hurt? Will he get to continue his glorious run in MLS? And more worryingly, was anyone seriously injured in the chaotic scenes at the stadium gates?
Concacaf and Conmebol have some soul-searching to do. Passions run high in the Americas, and most people would consider that a good thing. But the farcical scenes of brutal fouls going uncalled, followed by mobs of angry players from both teams chasing the referee like a town chasing out Frankenstein’s monster, don’t sit well with a lot of fans.
But you can’t say it’s not dramatic. And you can’t say an unworthy team is lifting a trophy. Argentina don’t necessarily pick fights. But they know how to end them – with a goal and a defensive stand.
Hope you all enjoyed the Copa coverage and find something interesting to do tomorrow. See you for the Olympics in a couple of weeks.
Updated at 06.30 CEST
06.21 CEST
Let’s put it this way – the last time Argentina were in a major international tournament and didn’t win it, no one had heard of COVID-19. They won this tournament in 2021, the World Cup in 2022, and now this tournament again.
They often do it without looking brilliant. But they have a mix of sublime skill and dogged determination.
Comparing them with Spain is a difficult question and maybe even a strange one. As much as the game has gone global, with most of the best players in the world mixing it up in the world’s top five leagues or their satellites, soccer in the Americas just looks and feels like a different sport than soccer in Europe. Argentina probably wouldn’t have won Euro 2024. But Spain probably wouldn’t have won Copa América 2024.
Winning in the Americas means slogging it out in the mud. Not literally, though field conditions have been questioned throughout. Messi wins by getting mes- … no, I can’t bring myself to make that pun. But you get the idea.
In basketball terms, Spain is the Boston Celtics. They won an intense but well-regulated sport. Argentina is the best basketball team on the playground, where the nets are made of chains and fouls are subject to the whims of the masses.
World Cup 2026 might be fun, right?
Updated at 06.21 CEST
06.10 CEST
We have a VAR check. We think. There’s no other reason for the referee to be holding the ball.
Borja decides to run toward the referee, as if that’ll help his case. He’s cut off by Argentina players.
This is silly. The Euro rule of only having captains talk with the ref seems to be working better.
It’s a dropped ball to Argentina. Players are supposed to be a couple of yards away. They’re not. But Martinez kicks it back toward the byline and then picks it up, and …
Updated at 06.10 CEST
05.51 CEST
Joe Pearson: “This ref reminds me of one of the neighborhood moms, who had four boys. ‘Don’t call me unless there’s blood. Lots of blood.’”
Colombia had three subs left? They bringing in Carrascal, Miguel Borja and Uribe. They’re replacing Jhon Arias, Lerma and Luis Diaz.
The only midfielders remaining from the start of the game are Argentina’s De Paul and Di Maria. All of the other midfielders and all of the forwards on both teams have been replaced.
Updated at 05.51 CEST
05.41 CEST
99 min: I know Rob Smyth likes to give updated formations after a lot of subs are made. I’ll see if I can figure out Argentina’s …
The first two subs were like-for-like injury subs, not that there’s anyone like Messi. Molina replaced Montiel; Gonzalez replaced Messi. After this wave of subs …
So most of the back line is intact:
GK: E. Martinez
LB: Tagliafico
CB: L. Martinez
CB: Romero
RB: Molina
L. Martinez and Romero collide as they converge to cut off a Colombian attack. Ouch.
Updated at 05.41 CEST
05.37 CEST
97 min: Triple substitution for Argentina. In hockey, that’s a line change.
Off: Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister
On: Paredes (Roma), Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur), and oh by the way, the team’s leading scorer in this tournament, Lautaro Martinez (Inter).
Updated at 05.37 CEST
05.23 CEST
90 min +2: Di Maria, operating on the right, gets the ball in space and barrels in on goal. Colombia’s clearance isn’t convincing.
Argentina play it back in, and Lerma tries to pass it back to a teammate, only to see the ball bounce awkwardly about five yards short of that teammate. He hoofs it into the sky to concede a corner kick.
Di Maria takes that corner, and it’s headed to Gonzalez, who mishits it.
That was the second minute of the four we’re going to get in stoppage time.
Updated at 05.23 CEST
05.04 CEST
69 min: The broadcasters are trying to capture Argentina fans reacting to Messi’s emotional departure. But every time they show some fans, they see themselves on the big screen and immediately smile and wave.
We have a free kick for Colombia deep in their own half, but now Montiel is sitting down on the field. Atletico Madrid’s Nahuel Molina comes in.
No idea what happened to Montiel. We saw what happened to Messi, and the bad news is that it’s a non-contact injury. That may sound strange, but when players are kicked, elbowed or otherwise banged into by opponents, it’s usually just a painful bruise. If a player has an awkward step and hits the ground, it’s sometimes a serious ligament injury. No need to speculate here, but the concern is obvious.
Updated at 05.04 CEST
04.49 CEST
57 min: CHANCE for Argentina – multiple chances, actually. Mac Allister storms through the middle to collect a pass, and he heads it down into a defender. There are half-hearted calls for a handball, but it would clearly be a harsh call.
The ball pings around the penalty area, goes back out, and then Di Maria rips a shot that forces Vargas to sprawl and punch out for a corner kick.
Everyone’s mad and yelling at the referee. Or, as I call it, Saturday.
Updated at 04.49 CEST
Source link : https://amp.theguardian.com/football/live/2024/jul/15/argentina-v-colombia-copa-america-2024-final-live-updates
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Publish date : 2024-07-15 00:30:57
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