Argentina Have No Excuses If They Fail to Win Copa America Centenario
NEW JERSEY — Argentina national football team manager Gerardo Martino cut a nervous figure in his press conference before the Copa America Centenario final, virtually ignoring the first few questions, providing short, curt answers of around one line, often missing the point of the inquiry. After a while, someone called him out on it, asking if he felt a little unsettled.
"There are too many of you. Normally there are fewer of you. You get a little flustered," he explained.
The nerves were uncharacteristic and showed how much pressure is on the coach's shoulders to deliver a nation the title they have craved for 23 years.
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In 1993, two goals from Gabriel Batistuta handed Argentina a 2-1 win over Mexico in the Copa America final. The star of this generation, Lionel Messi, surpassed the legendary striker's record goal tally at this tournament, and now he must emulate his title success, too.
He was, as usual, the centre of attention ahead of the final Sunday night in New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. Partly because he creates headlines and the managers are always asked about him, and partly because he took part in a press conference of his own Friday night.
Messi had criticised the Argentine Football Association in an Instagram post beforehand, complaining about the organisation because their flight from Houston to New York was delayed.
"Once more waiting on a plane to try to get to our destination...what a disaster the AFA are for God's sake," he wrote.
Perhaps Messi didn't know, but electrical storms in Chicago had caused huge delays and many cancellations to flights going both to the Windy City and also past it, with Newark and JFK airports both affected, too.
It seemed a needless rant from Messi, who at his press conference admitted the team weren't affected by it, and he would explain more after the tournament was over. Messi said, per the Buenos Aires Herald:
"I want to think about the final. After that, we can talk about what I think, what I believe. After the final, I’ll explain why I wrote what I wrote and all my thoughts about it. What’s going on in the AFA has not affected us. What we’re asking for is minimal: to travel and to rest properly. Things have been going on for a while now and we haven’t said anything. We only think about our objectives. Argentina’s national team is a world class team that requires the best in order to do the right things.
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The message was clear from Messi—any grievance he has with the AFA cannot be blamed for failure at this tournament. There can be no more excuses for Argentina.
Germany beat them in the 2014 World Cup final, Chile saw them off on penalties at the 2015 Copa America at the last hurdle, and now they have a third chance in three years to stop the rot and lift a trophy.
That is Messi’s focus, his goal.
"I don't know if it is my last opportunity [to win an international trophy], but we have to take advantage of it and take this cup by any means," he said, per Sky Sports.
"It is the fourth final that I've played with the national team, and I'd like to change the story some day and to become champion."
Messi has not been at his best in previous finals for Argentina, so the onus is on him to play how he has been performing in the rest of the games so far—the tournament’s best player at this stage, followed by Arturo Vidal.
The Chile midfielder is back from suspension, and he will be key for his side if they are to upset the odds and beat the Albiceleste.
It’s in midfield that Chile can overrun Argentina, with Atletico Madrid midfielder Augusto Fernandez injured, with either Lucas Biglia or Matias Kranevitter to come in alongside Javier Mascherano and Ever Banega.
As Martino confirmed in his press conference, there are no other injury worries beyond Ezequiel Lavezzi, who fractured his elbow, which means Angel di Maria is back in contention for a spot.
"After Messi, Di Maria is the next most decisive player in this Argentina side," said Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi at his own press conference, which started around an hour after Martino’s ended at the MetLife Stadium's Coaches Club.
Compared to Martino, he was calm and collected, a surprise as he is not used to big occasions like these.
"Without a doubt it’s the most important match of my career," he said at the start. "I’m enjoying it like the rest of the squad, I hope and I trust that we can play a good match and win the cup again.
"With regards to how we’re shaping up for this match I think we’re in very good form. A lot of confidence, and I think we’re well prepared for tomorrow’s match."
Pizzi recognised the Messi danger factor and says Chile will put into place a plan to try to combat his threat. "We’re going to use whatever weapons we consider are best to stop any of our opponents," he said.
"With these strategies, Messi really spurs forward their attacks. We see it every week when he plays with the national team but also many times with Barcelona. The virtues he has individually to destabilise an opponent mean we need to have some kind of mechanism in place to counter them. Otherwise he will be able to change the game."
Argentina saw what happened when Chile shackled Messi in last year’s final. At times, there were up to five men trying to stop him. However, his team-mates didn’t do their part to help him out.
Gonzalo Higuain was particularly bad, but no Argentina players impressed in Santiago's Estadio Nacional, with Pablo Zabaleta the best of a bad bunch.
Messi received rough treatment, with Gary Medel crashing a leg into his midriff at one point, and from Pizzi's words, he can expect similar treatment again in this final.
He may even be "betrayed" by his own team, with Martino saying Argentina would be willing to give up their own game as long as it meant they got a result.
"It would be worth it just to achieve this and leave the how to one side," explained the coach.
And while Argentines may debate long and hard over whether that is a good philosophy—it seems to be similar to the one which has left Brazil in the muck—what is for sure is that a Copa America victory, however it is achieved, will be greeted triumphantly.
Messi may become loved by fans who previously reserved that spot in their heart for the likes of Carlos Tevez and Diego Maradona.
But fall short in a final for the third year running, and instead Argentina will be considered failures. They will be afraid to return to their own country for fear of the scorn that will pour down on them.
Chile will play the final without much pressure, having won the competition the year before, while the Albiceleste carry over two decades of heartbreak on their shoulders. It is time that came to an end.
Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise stated.
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