Sports
What Lionel Messi Vowed To Do After Argentina Crashed Out Copa Of America
Lionel Messi has spoken out after Argentina crashed out of the ongoing Copa America tournament in Brazil.
World famous footballer, Lionel Messi has vowed to extend his international career after yet another bid to win a major title with Argentina ended in failure at the Copa America on Tuesday.
According to the Agence France Presse, AFP, the 32-year-old Barcelona star, who infamously quit international football after Argentinaâs defeat in the 2016 Copa America Centenario final, said he had no plans to hang up his boots after a 2-0 semi-final loss to Brazil.
âIf I can still help in any way, I will continue to do so. I feel really good in this group,â said the five-time Ballon dâOr winner.
âThis is a good, talented generation who showed that they love the national team,â he added.
âThey have a future and great foundations, they just need to be given time.â
Messi will get another chance to break his tournament duck next year when the Copa America takes place in Argentina and Colombia, with the 2022 World Cup looming further on the horizon.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni meanwhile insisted his new-look squad had a bright future despite the defeat.
âWithout a doubt, today we showed that this group of players feel the jersey like no-one else,â he said.
âWe showed an image for the future of this squad and these players and the great path they are on.
âTo play in this stadium, in these conditions and to be superior to our opponents.
âIt doesnât matter because theyâre going to the final but if weâre aware of what we did today then there are only positives.â
He said the defeat was âunfairâ claiming that âno other team has created as many goalscoring chances against Brazil as we did.â
Messiâs best chance came on 57 minutes when he volleyed against the post. Scaloni said the veteran was Argentinaâs âstandard-bearer.â
âBrazil were continuously trying to stop passes from reaching him and we kept looking for ways to get him the ball,â Scaloni said.
âIt was thrilling to see him play. It didnât work out today but heâll have his rematch and the whole squad will have their rematch.â
Scaloni was unhappy with some of Ecuadoran referee Roddy Zambranoâs decisions, not least the fact that Argentina picked up six bookings to Brazilâs two.
âI didnât like the referee, I donât usually make those comments,â he said.
âI donât think he was qualified for a match of this level.â
He added: âIf a midfielder player is on a yellow card this changes things. There were a lot of small details where the match started to lose its balance because of those decisions.â
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