A low-level America’s Cup awaits the appearance of its stars | Football | sports

Messi is the leader of an Albiceleste that has barely scored three goals in the same number of games and is still looking for a partner for their captain.

AFP

June 27, 2021 – 12:10 p.m.

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Figures that do not appear, petty game and goals dropper. The America Cup is waiting for a turn of the wheel for football to land in the second half of the tournament with the magic of Lionel Messi, Neymar O Luis Suarez.

So far none of the South American stars have stood out. Messi is the leader of an Albiceleste that has barely scored three goals in the same number of games and is still looking for a partner for their captain. That task has been maintained almost without interruption since 2005, when he debuted, and with the seven coaches who have touched him so far (José Pekerman, Sergio Batista, Alejandro Sabella, Edgardo Bauza, Gerardo Martino, Jorge Sampaoli and the current Lionel Scaloni).

In contrast to his performance at Barcelona, ​​where he never tires of breaking records, Messi has between eyebrows to finish in this Copa América with Argentina’s 28-year streak without titles and at the same time claim three lost finals in the regional tournament (2007, 2015 and 2016). The backpack is heavy at 34, although Messi seems determined to take that weight off his shoulders and take full revenge: raise the cup on July 10 at the Maracana, the emblematic home of the archrival, where he could not do it in the World Cup final. -2014.

Outstanding account

Like his friend Messi, Neymar never won a Copa América, in 2019 he was injured when the seleçao indulged in the Maracana. It seems like a curse from the great stars of both countries, because neither did Pelé and Diego Maradona. However, the scratch that Tite directs is for now the only team that offers good football odds, with the DNA of the Beautiful game, although without dazzling. When he played with a level rival like Colombia, he suffered a lot and his extensive series of 11 consecutive wins could have been cut, including friendly and official matches.

The ‘canarinha’ translated those bursts of Beautiful game in 9 goals in three games, enough to confirm that he is by far the best team in South America, while the rest of the teams have an average of one goal per game or less. Brushstrokes of Messi, bursts of Neymar, some run of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado, the reunion with the network of Edinson Cavani, the disagreement of Luis Suárez. The priority idea is to strengthen the defensive bloc and then it will be seen. The format of four classifieds per group of five participants in total invites this: you can make calculations, speculate until you even advance to the quarterfinals with two points.

In that there are several selected from Group B that leads Brazil and second Colombia, both classified, with a final date on Sunday in which Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela continue in the fight for the two remaining places. Ecuador, with two points, will not have a quiet closure, although even if it loses to Brazil it can qualify, if Peru defeats Venezuela (also two points). The tricolor lost on Saturday for the decisive clash against Brazil at the wheel of Argentine nationalized Ecuadorian Damián Díaz, who tested positive for covid-19.

“After conducting the rigorous PCR tests, prior to the game on Sunday, June 27, 2021, corresponding to the fifth date of group B, of the Copa America, the player Damián Díaz was positive for COVID-19,” the national team reported from Ecuador on his Twitter account, adding that “no other member of the delegation has tested positive.”

In Group A things are clearer with the four quotas already defined for Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay, and Bolivia eliminated, but the last date on Monday will be to avoid fourth place and avoid an intractable Brazil in the quarterfinals . (D)

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