Lionel Messi expects a tough check towards Chile as Argentina look to take care of their unbeaten begin on the 2024 Copa America.
Argentina play their penultimate Group A match on the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Wednesday towards La Roja, having overwhelmed Canada on matchday 1.
The Albiceleste impressed of their opener towards the Canucks, registering 19 pictures on aim, surpassing the mixed whole of 18 pictures taken by Chile and Peru within the different Group A gathering.
Messi, who broke the Copa America look file throughout that match, expressed the significance of their victory within the opening recreation however is aware of his facet are in for a aggressive encounter with Ricardo Gareca’s facet.
“Yeah, we’ve at all times recognized how robust the opening recreation is. A very powerful factor is to get off to a profitable begin,” Messi mentioned.
“It’s not occurred beforehand below [Lionel] Scaloni, in order that calms issues down since you endure rather a lot while you begin off dropping.
“However we at all times play the identical method. We’re in a tough group, and now we have now to face an excellent and aggressive workforce.
“Ricardo Gareca’s arrival has given them one thing else as nicely.
“So yeah, we’re glad to have began with a win, however we’re now going to relaxation and put together for Chile.
“We all know that we have now to be a workforce and obtain our objectives in the suitable method.
“We all know that the one path to take action is in our personal method. So we are going to proceed with the identical humility and want to win.”
#SelecciónMayor Imágenes de los tripulantes de la #Scaloneta pic.twitter.com/EVm9PsZeVj
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 24, 2024
In the meantime, Chile might be hopeful of bettering their current file towards Argentina, having didn’t beat their opponents for the reason that Copa America last in June 2016, although they wanted penalties to get the victory on that event.
La Roja kickstarted their marketing campaign with a goalless draw towards Peru on the AT&T Stadium in Texas, managing to register only one shot on track from the 11 they tried – the joint-fewest the Blanquirroja have confronted within the competitors for the reason that debut of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese within the competitors (2015).
Gareca’s facet have now failed to attain of their final three video games within the Copa America, a run of 378 minutes and not using a aim.
Nevertheless, the 66-year-old believes their lack of menace in entrance of aim isn’t a problem forward of their showdown with the Albiceleste.
“We weren’t capable of create many performs and execute them. We had been below a whole lot of stress, and typically we weren’t correct in our passes,” mentioned Gareca, who grew to become the tenth coach to have managed totally different groups in consecutive editions of the competitors.
“I’m not involved. I feel this might be helpful for us to analyse our recreation to enhance our recreation.
“We, after all, hoped to win the match. However I feel it’s essential that we’re capable of take a degree, and we nonetheless have two matches forward of us.”
Primer entrenamiento en New Jersey #SomosLaRoja pic.twitter.com/7hG8YuCv6I
— Selección Chilena (@LaRoja) June 24, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chile – Victor Davila
Victor Davila might be hoping to rediscover the goal-scoring contact he skilled earlier than the Copa America forward of arising towards the World Cup champions.
Having scored three objectives and offered one help in his earlier three worldwide appearances heading into their opener towards Peru, the CSKA Moscow striker confirmed glimpses of his attacking menace.
The 26-year-old has the joint-most pictures (three) and essentially the most touches within the opposition field (5), however didn’t register a shot on track, coming off within the sixty fifth minute with an anticipated objectives (xG) whole of 0.22.
Argentina – Lionel Messi
Messi has performed in 35 out of 36 matches for Argentina within the Copa America since his debut. The one match he missed was a 2-1 group stage victory towards Tuesday’s opponents in 2016.
The Inter Miami star registered an help for Lautaro Martinez’s late aim, reaching 50 direct aim involvements in official competitions for membership and nation on U.S. soil (30 objectives and 20 assists).
Nevertheless, Messi might be hoping so as to add to his 108 worldwide objectives on the MetLife Stadium. Ought to he rating, it could take his Copa America tally to 14, degree with Chile’s Eduardo Vargas and Peru’s Paolo Guerrero, three away from equalling Norberto Mendez’s file (17).
MATCH PREDICTION: ARGENTINA WIN
The Opta supercomputer is closely backing Argentina to take care of their unbeaten begin on the 2024 Copa America. They received 66.5% of the pre-match simulations, whereas Chile received simply 15.1%.
Argentina come up towards a well-recognized foe in Chile on the event, with this their thirtieth assembly on the Copa America. La Roja are the third-most frequent opponent for Lionel Scaloni’s facet, behind solely Brazil (34) and Uruguay (32).
La Albiceleste stay unbeaten towards Chile in these encounters (21 wins, eight attracts). Nevertheless, La Roja clinched their two titles by defeating Argentina in penalty shootouts within the 2015 and 2016 finals.
Since 2011, Argentina have the fewest losses (two) amongst groups which have performed in multiple Copa America version. La Albiceleste additionally boasts essentially the most victories within the event throughout this era (18).
Chile, nevertheless, might be trying to upset the chances. La Roja are on the lookout for their first win in video games between the 2 groups since June 2016. Throughout that point, Argentina have outscored the Chilean facet 7-4, one thing that might want to change to extend their probabilities of development.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chile – 15.1%
Argentina – 66.5%
Draw – 18.4%
