Copa America winner against Brazil in July, Argentina shines in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
July 11, 2021, 96th minute, time stands still for Argentina, Lionel Messi collapses on the lawn. The final whistle sounds, the players rush straight to their guide. 28 years after their last coronation on the continental stage, Messi and his family have done it. To restore the image of a historical selection of football, by raising their fifteenth Copa America, at the expense of Brazil.
A performance forever etched in history for Scaloni’s men, but the Albiceleste is already looking ahead. After a mastered first phase of qualifying, Argentina now has the 2022 World Cup in its sights.
In the continuity of the coronation
The Argentine selection quickly recovered from its emotions. Involved in the traditional phase of qualifying for the World Cup, the Albiceleste is in line with its objectives. Second in the group behind Brazil, the Argentines are unbeaten in eight days. The proteges of Scaloni are part of a policy of continuity after their triumph in July. Two matches, two wins, six goals scored, only one conceded, and more certainties in the game.
Galvanized by this title, the men of Scaloni master their subject at every meeting. Imperial defensively, with only 6 goals conceded in 8 days, Argentina, led by a Lionel Messi at the top, manages to create a multitude of opportunities.
A domination in the game, accentuated by the confidence generated during the Copa America, and also linked to the weakness of the opponents encountered. In September, the Argentines faced Bolivia and Venezuela, respectively 9th and 10th in the group. However, the enthusiasm and the joy of evolving together are inevitably felt. Against Bolivia, the Copa America winners have finally found their home crowd, absent since the start of the pandemic. In front of 21,000 jubilant supporters at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, Lionel Messi and his troops were able to celebrate the title gleaned against Brazil with their supporters.
«People are crazy (with joy). Everything is linked, the national team which has just been champion of the Copa America. To be able to celebrate this is amazing. My mother, my brothers and sisters are in the stands. I have suffered a lot, but I am very happy“Said the new PSG player, on the verge of tears. Top scorer, passer, and player of the Copa America, Lionel Messi seems to be at the peak of his adventure with the Argentina selection.
Lionel Messi, freed from a weight
Lionel Messi is on cloud nine with the Albiceleste. In the eye of the storm after each international competition with Argentina, the former Barça had to wait for his fourth Copa America final, to reach the Grail. Since then, he seems, like his team, reduced in weight, as evidenced by his hat-trick against Bolivia in September.
“I’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Now to enjoy it, it is a unique moment after waiting so long, I am very happy. “
Lionel Messi
A meeting where the five-fold golden ball flaunted his whole class and led his people to victory.
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Achievements that allowed him to reach the number of 79 goals for the Argentine jersey and thus overtake Pelé, as the Latin American player who scored the most goals in the selection.
“Your talent is incredible”
Pele to Messi after beating his number of national goals
Six lengths behind Malaysian Mokhtar Dahari, the PSG player can aspire to become the third most decisive goalscorer in national history. Author of five goals since the start of qualifying, Messi is in the lineage of his Copa America. Most likely qualified for the 2022 World Cup, the native of Rosario will potentially participate in his last World Cup with Argentina.
The 2022 World Cup, an outsider status?
Since Lionel Scaloni took office in August 2018, Argentina has posted a very satisfactory balance sheet. 23 wins, 9 draws and only 4 losses. Without giving him an immediate style of play, Scaloni was able to build a solid group, as evidenced by the arrival of Emiliano Martinez in the group, a real pillar of the selection during the Copa.
Success in this competition is an important feat for the coach, but the Albiceleste has many areas for improvement. During the Copa America, Argentina alternated hot and cold in their approach to matches. Marked by solidarity and unwavering abnegation during the final against Brazil (0-1), the Albiceleste was also dominated, folded many times, without breaking.
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With an excellent goalkeeper, impressive strength of character, and Lionel Messi, Argentina has several strings to its bow. Many young people, including Angel and Joaquin Correa or Rodrigo de Paul, brilliant at the Copa America, are gaining more and more weight in the collective.
But for Lionel Scaloni, it will be necessary to find the winning formula to fight in the game against the big cars, and not to suffer during most of the meeting. For Messi’s last potential at the world, the Argentines will present themselves with an outsider status, with the objective of creating a sensation, as during this famous 2021 Copa America.
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