The Copa América semifinals begin tonight, and the tournament’s biggest star will be in action.
Lionel Messi, who has been dealing with a recent right leg injury, is expected to start in Argentina’s Copa América semifinal match against Canada tonight at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
“Leo is well. He finished the last game well, and he’ll be part of the game [Tuesday],” Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni said Monday during a press conference.
Five days after playing on Independence Day in the United States, Messi and Argentina will be in action during their country’s Independence Day tonight. Maybe, it will be an ideal time for Messi to score his first Copa América goal this tournament.
Argentina and Canada will play at 8 p.m. ET (9 p.m. in Argentina) on Tuesday night.
The game will be broadcast by FS1 in English, and Univision/TUDN in Spanish.
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Yes, Messi will play in his second straight game after returning from a right groin/adductor injury.
Argentina 2, Canada 0: Argentina’s ability to control possession will create chances for the world champions, and limit Canada’s opportunities at the net. Messi delivers with a goal and an assist, perhaps to Angel Di Maria in a victory. — Safid Deen, Lionel Messi reporter.
Argentina is a -300 favorite to win, while a draw as +400 odds, and Canada has +900 odds for the upset, according to BETMGM. Keep in mind, these odds are for the 90-minute match, and not any penalty shootout.
Messi has yet to score a goal during Copa América , and missed a match (June 29 in Miami) due to injury. He has played in two group matches, and in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador last Thursday.
Although Messi has been the catalyst to three of Argentina’s six goals, he has slightly underwhelmed during the tournament hosted in his new home country for the last year since joining Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Messi’s last goal came more than a month ago on June 1, during a 3-3 draw with Inter Miami against St. Louis City during the MLS season.
Messi was angered and disappointed after he missed a penalty shot during a game-deciding shootout in the Copa América quarterfinals, but Argentina prevailed 1-1 (4-2 in penalties).
"A lot of anger, a lot of anger," Messi said of his penalty miss. "I just wanted to touch it and it went high."
Colombia and Uruguay will play in the other Copa América semifinal Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
The semifinal winners will play in the Copa América 2024 final Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, while the losers play in the Copa América third-place game on Saturday in Charlotte.
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