Argentina beat Canada 2-0 to advance to the Copa America final. However, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hopes European teams will prove the tournament is much harder than it looks.
Scaloni’s Amazing Success in Argentina
Argentina are currently ranked number one in the world and are on the verge of winning their third trophy in the last three major tournaments. Since taking over as manager in 2018, Scaloni has revived the team and brought great success to the country.
He led Argentina to their first Copa América title since 1993 in 2021. The following year, he achieved another milestone by leading the team to victory in the World Cup, a feat Argentina had not achieved since 1986.
Many thought he would never win a trophy for his country despite his outstanding career, but some say he is the best thing that has ever happened to captain Lionel Messi.
On Sunday, Messi could lift a third trophy for Argentina in just three years, with critics responding by claiming the Copa America competition is not good enough compared to the Euros.
What did Scaloni say to this?
An angry Scaloni replied: ‘I don’t think it’s harder to go from one tournament to another.’ ‘There are some important teams that have reached the semi-finals of the Euros. They are the teams we faced in the World Cup and it went well for us. But that doesn’t mean we can go to the European Championships and win.’
‘Or maybe (they could win). I think the level is very even. ‘I would like to see one day a European team being invited to the Copa America and playing in it, and vice versa.
‘But that’s the World Cup, right? So in the end, the difficulties are the same. I don’t think there’s much difference. But this is just an opinion.’
It is still unclear who Argentina will face in the final, with Uruguay vs. Colombia set to kick off at 8 p.m. EST this Wednesday. The final will be held at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, July 14 at 8 p.m. EST.
