Foolish suspension for Argentina coach - Messi also missing
The two Football rivals Argentina and Brazil stumble through the Copa America - each in their own way. While Brazil manages to secure its first win, Argentina worries about Messi. The team must do without both its World Cup-winning trainer and World footballer in the last group game against Peru on this Saturday evening.
The trainer suspended, the superstar injured: Argentina must face World Cup-winning trainer Lionel Scaloni and World footballer Lionel Messi in the Copa America finale without them. While Messi sustained an upper leg injury in the second group game against Chile (1:0), his coach was banned due to a ridiculous suspension.
Because the 46-year-old exceeded the allowed 15 minutes in his team talks in the first two matches, both he and Chile's coach Ricardo Gareca were suspended by South America's Football Federation CONMEBOL for the group final. Jesse Marsch, the opposing coach, complained about Messi and his team being late from the dressing room by more than six minutes after the first game against Canada. In the second game against Chile, it was 2:45 minutes over the allowed limit. This time, there was no complaint from the opposition, as Chile also exceeded the break. The Copa America regulations provide a warning for the first offense and a suspension and a fine of 15,000 US dollars for the trainers for the second offense.
On Friday, Scaloni had already handed over the post-match press conference to his co-trainer Walter Samuel, who announced Messi's absence in the last game. "We'll take it day by day and see how he recovers," he said.
Real-Professional meets first for Brazil
Meanwhile, it's going better for rivals Brazil after the goalless draw and the bitter start: The Selecao celebrated a 4:1 (3:0) victory against Paraguay in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. For the team of trainer Dorival Junior, it was an important success to keep the group lead. Paraguay is out of the tournament after the loss. "I said, be patient. This team is on the right track," the coach said after the game.
Lucas Paqueta missed an penalty kick (31st minute), but four minutes later, Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid scored the first goal for the Brazilians in this competition with a beautiful dribbling. Savinho scored shortly afterwards (43rd minute), and Vinicius Junior scored his second goal just before halftime (45+5). Omar Alderete scored a beautiful long-range goal for Paraguay to make it 3:1 (48th minute). Paqueta scored the 4:1 goal from the penalty spot (65th minute). Television cameras showed the jubilant striker Neymar, who has been injured since October of the previous year, on the sidelines, and the Brazilians have to do without him at this tournament in the US.
Brazil is in second place in the table, four points behind Colombia (6). The Colombians have already secured their advancement to the quarterfinals with a 3:0 (1:0) victory over Costa Rica before their match against Brazil on Wednesday (3 PM CET).
Despite Argentina's struggles in the Copa America, with Lionel Messi facing an injury and their coach, Lionel Scaloni, suspended, the team still holds hopes for recovery. In the meantime, Lionel Messi's rival and fellow soccer star, Neymar, remains sidelined for Brazil, who secured a significant win over Paraguay, 4-1. Messi and his team will face Peru in their last group game on Saturday night, while Brazil prepares for their match against Colombia on Wednesday.
