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Lionel Messi leads Argentina to 2-0 win over Canada in Copa America opener - but defending champions must make BIG improvements
Lionel Messi lifted the curtain on the Copa America but took his time finding center stage before Argentina beat Jesse Marsch's gritty Canada 2-0 in Atlanta.
A sublime Messi through ball in the 47th minute cracked open Canada's stubborn defense, with Julian Alvarez slotting into an empty net after Alexis Mac Allister was clattered by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau. And after Messi missed a string of second half chances, substitute Lautaro Martinez scored with two minutes left - from a Messi assist.
But if this is the beginning of the end and Messi's 'Last Dance' at an international tournament - as the man himself expects it to be - the World Cup winners need another level of pace to their play, more midfield authority and remove slack defensive passing if their star man is to sign off with a third international trophy.
'We knew it was going to be a tough game, very physical,' Messi said afterwards. 'In the first half there was little space. Luckily we found the goal quickly in the second half. We could have played better but even so, it was complicated. Most of our rivals play differently against us, you have to be patient and have control when opportunities arrive.'
The first 10 minutes were brilliant from Argentina. Leandro Paredes tried his luck from 25 yards and his menacing right-footed strike just failed to dip enough to trouble Crepeau.
Julian Alvarez celebrates after putting Argentina ahead against Canada in the Copa America
Alexis Mac Allister got the assist but took a hit after diverting Lionel Messi's through ball
There were muted celebrations before it was clear that the Liverpool man was not badly hurt
And they should have scored four minutes later. Angel Di Maria charged down a pass from Canada's last man as they tried to recycle play from their own corner and had their whole half of the field to run into with Messi alongside him.
But Canada's defense reacted brilliantly, racing back to force him wide before Crepeau easily repelled a shot from a position that should have delivered more.
Then, Messi raced through across goal, on his left foot, but agonizingly dragged his shot wide before being flagged offside. Canada held on, but it felt like a warning as Argentina brushed the dust off the gears.
Marsch's men held firm, though, and their response to the danger spoke volumes of the belief he has instilled after just three matches with this team. On the eve of the game, he called on them to be fearless against Argentina and he was not let down, even in defeat.
Alphonso Davies, the Canada captain, was relentless down the left and set the tone for his team to harry and hassle their illustrious opponents. As Argentina threatened to take control in their lively start, Canada's work rate increased and the hold Messi and his men had on the game dimmed so much, a Mexican wave even went round the stadium.
Mac Allister went close with a soft header but Canada should have snatched the lead before halftime. Cyle Larin's chipped ball from the byline was met by Stephen Eustaquio, but his header from six yards was beaten away by Emiliano Martinez.
It was a huge let off for Argentina, and how different things might have been if the Porto man had put it away.
For much of the first half, Messi had walked around the fringes of the game. As he so often does, the man that everyone wants to see hides in plain sight but he took Eustaquio's header as the sign to go hunting for the ball. Seconds before the halftime whistle, he slalomed in from the right and let fly left-footed, but his effort sailed harmlessly wide.
Messi missed several chances in the second half to put the game to bed for his team
He laid on the turf, burying his head on the ground after his deft chip bounced wide
Lautaro Martinez made the game safe with a smart finish from a Messi pass late on
It was a sign of things to come, though. Four minutes the other side of the break, he unlocked the scoring by playing in Mac Allister with sumptuously weighted through ball.
The Liverpool man looked hurt as Crepeau clattered into him after he nudged possession into the path of Alvarez but after a few worrying moments, it was clear the goal had not come at any major cost to the defending champions.
Alvarez nearly scored again moments later, Crepeau turning away his low right-footed strike.
Messi then had a great chance to double the lead with Davies' misjudging a long ball over the top - his sole error of the night - which Messi controlled wonderfully on the run.
Crepeau rushed out again and between him and Davies, shunted Messi's first shot and the rebound spun awkwardly for the attacker, who could only get it under control with his back to goal. Canada forced the ball away, and living dangerously seemed to give them life.
Davies caused chaos with a cross/shot that squirmed away from Martinez's goal to anxious gasps from the 70,564 fans packed into the Mercedes Benz stadium. Martinez then had to bravely jump on Alistair Johnson's ball into the six-yard area.
Canada could have had a goal before halftime - Stephen Eustaquio's six-yard header was saved
Messi sees a shot blocked in a difficult first half for Argentina against Canada
The 36-year-old was often crowded out of possession by a hard-working Canada side
With 10 minutes left, Messi raced onto a long ball from another of his anonymous positions wide on the right, bared down on Crepeau but lifted the ball over him and saw it bounce the wrong side of the far post.
The pair seemed to collide, but it was accidental. Messi took a minute to climb back to his feet, his face pressed into the ground in frustration at another missed chance. Martinez then missed an identical chance a minute later, shooting straight at the Canada keeper when Messi set him free.
For a mortifying moment, Messi looked injured from Moise Bombito's last ditch slide challenge to block the pass, making strong contact with his right ankle instead. But after a minute of treatment, Messi was back on his feet and, thanks to Martinez making no mistake with his second great chance, Argentina saw the game out from there.
It wasn't his best night but Messi still did enough to turn the game in his team's favor with a moment of magic for Alvarez's opener.
Another performance as wasteful as this, though, against a team more ruthless than Canada, and Argentina will be there for the taking.