Messi’s crimson card overshadows Argentina’s encouraging win and Chile’s finish of an period

Lionel Messi’s Argentina profession started in 2005 with an absurd crimson card in a pleasant in opposition to Hungary after he was adjudged to have thrown an elbow at a defender. Fourteen years later, equally weird circumstances noticed him despatched off for the second time in his profession.

With eight minutes to go till half-time within the Copa America’s recreation for third place that Argentina finally received 2-1, there is no such thing as a doubt that he was responsible of a push on Chile’s Gary Medel, who responded by repeatedly charging Messi along with his chest. What adopted, although, was hardly warranted.

The incident got here after a sequence of fouls by each groups and led to referee Mauro Diaz de Vivar making an attempt too onerous to compensate for dropping management. The Paraguayan official was by no means more likely to have a simple recreation, and with scuffles breaking out throughout the pitch, he despatched Messi and Medel off. After a number of extra minutes of remonstrating and protest, each males left the pitch.

Argentina had taken the sphere pushed by a way of injustice, wounded by refereeing selections that didn’t go their manner in Tuesday’s semifinal in opposition to Brazil. Chile, in the meantime, have been fuelled by the bittersweet — however primarily bitter — sensation that an period was ending.

This was certainly the final time that the best crew within the nation’s historical past, Copa champions in 2015 and ’16, would play collectively. They didn’t wish to exit with a whimper however rapidly discovered themselves two targets down, with Argentina’s sharp assault discovering gaps in an ageing defence.

The ball may need been rolling when, after 12 minutes, Messi took a fast free kick to discover a characteristically clever run by Sergio Aguero, who completed with aplomb. Ten minutes later, Giovani Lo Celso’s pleasant, defence-splitting go was collected by Pablo Dybala for Argentina’s second.

Lionel Messi’s crimson card overshadowed an encouraging finish to Copa America for Argentina. AP Photograph/Victor R. Caivano

Messi arrange Dybala for what most likely ought to have been the third, however the Juventus striker volleyed simply broad, and it regarded like a rout may be within the offing. However this nice Chilean technology had no intention of being humiliated as they left the scene and the sport turned ugly, with flare-ups and fouls aplenty.

Out of his depth, Diaz de Vivar overreacted. Maybe the outdated ploy of making an attempt to determine management by sending off one participant from all sides was premeditated, or possibly he satisfied himself that the following flashpoint would give him an opportunity to achieve for the crimson and reestablish his authority.

However it was silly. Medel, maybe, was pushing his luck, however Messi had achieved nothing to advantage his marching orders. Lots of the Sao Paulo crowd had come to see the Argentinean No. 10, and so they made the referee effectively conscious of their emotions.

After the sport, Messi spoke out in regards to the Medel incident and the fallout from the semifinal defeat.

“I really feel lot of anger as a result of I feel I didn’t deserve that crimson card as a result of I feel we have been enjoying an excellent recreation,” he mentioned. “We have been forward however, as I mentioned just lately, sadly there’s loads of corruption, the referees… We go away with the sensation that they didn’t enable us to be within the ultimate, that we have been prepared for higher. Brazil’s match and at present’s match have been our two greatest performances however then when you find yourself honest, you say issues and these items occur.”

The knock-on impact for Argentina is that, if the crimson card stands, Messi might be suspended for the beginning of World Cup qualifying subsequent 12 months. Earlier than then, although, there’s some severe pondering to do for the nation’s federation.

– Indignant Messi cites ‘corruption’ after Copa crimson card
– Marcotti: Brazil favourites to assert glory vs. Peru
– Copa America: All you could know

Caretaker coach Lionel Scaloni has been informed that he’ll keep in cost till the top of the 12 months. If he’s not going to be retained long-term, then that appears weird. Friendlies in September, October and November are important for whipping the crew into form, so it is not sensible to maintain a short lived coach except the best choice shouldn’t be but obtainable.

There’s a lot hypothesis that River Plate’s Marcelo Gallardo would be the new man, however he won’t wish to free himself from membership duties whereas his aspect are nonetheless in competition for the Copa Libertadores title they received in opposition to Boca Juniors earlier this 12 months.

Scaloni would seem to wish to keep on and may use the argument that his aspect completed the Copa America a lot better than they began the competitors, however the reality is that Argentina’s poor begin was largely all the way down to the incoherence of the short-term coach.

He took over final August shouting loud a couple of new type primarily based on profitable the ball, transferring it rapidly to the wingers and being in place to shoot inside three or 4 seconds. The issue was that the concept didn’t work as soon as Messi was obtainable; Argentina couldn’t probably subject him in addition to two open wingers and a centre ahead.

The previous few weeks have seen Scaloni attempt to discover a manner out of the confusion that he created, and to his credit score, by the top of the Copa, his crew was extra compact and had created a circuit of passing by means of the center of the sphere that introduced Messi into play strikers working heroically.

The opening half-hour in opposition to Chile featured Argentina’s greatest soccer of the event, and the opening aim — that fast free kick from Messi to Aguero — introduced again reminiscences of the Diego Maradona-inspired strike by Claudio Caniggia in opposition to Nigeria within the 1994 World Cup.

Argentina await their first senior title because the 12 months earlier than that aim, after they received the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador, however whereas it’s putting that so many gifted attackers haven’t subsequently been capable of get their palms on silverware, the primary issues are on the different finish of the pitch.

The shortage of defensive tempo stays a thorn within the aspect. Scaloni has modified a number of the names, however the best way Paraguay scored in group-stage play, in addition to the character of Brazil’s second aim within the semifinal, highlights the necessity for a brand new technology of faster, higher defenders.

Chile, in the meantime, want a brand new technology of all the pieces. They pushed themselves as onerous as they may on this event, however there’s solely ever one winner within the long-term battle between athlete and time. It was becoming in a manner that, when Alexis Sanchez limped off early on this recreation, he was changed by Junior Fernandes, age 31.

Outcomes will undergo, however a significant rebuilding job is unavoidable, and it’ll start of their subsequent recreation: a September pleasant within the U.S. in opposition to Argentina.