Argentina

EAST RUTHERFORD — Defending champions Argentina booked their place in the Copa America final after goals from Julian Alvarez and Lionel Messi gave them a 2-0 win over Canada in Tuesday's semi-final in New Jersey.

Argentina have won a joint-record 15 Copa titles and reached the final six times in the past eight editions but Canada caused them problems in the opening 20 minutes, Jacob Shaffelburg twice shooting wide from promising positions.

ATLANTA — Canada coach Jesse Marsch said Argentina should be fined after the defending champions emerged late from the dressing room for the second half in their Copa América opener on Thursday.

After the first half ended goalless, Argentina opened the scoring four minutes after the restart through Julian Alvarez while Lautaro Martinez scored a late goal in a 2-0 win.

Argentina emerged for the second period around five minutes after Canada.

Jesse Marsch Argentina complaint

Argentina’s 2-0 victory vs. Canada on Thursday in Copa América wasn’t smooth sailing. It literally wasn’t smooth because the Mercedes-Benz Stadium grass put in place caused issues for both teams.

Members of Argentina and Canada said that the grass put in place wasn’t up to par. Atlanta United and the NFL’s Falcons play on turf inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, however the artificial turf was replaced with grass on Sunday.

Copa América grass issue

The replacement grass was basically placed over concrete creating a uniquely bad surface to play on.

Racism is still the biggest plague of the “Beautiful Game”, and it reared its ugly head on Thursday as Argentina and Lionel Messi fans racially abused Canada’s Moïse Bombito on social media.

Fans weren’t happy about the tackle on Messi from the Colorado Rapids star during the Copa América opener between Canada and Argentina. During the second half Messi went down and received treatment following this tackle from the Canada defender.

The Copa América kicked off with Argentina defeating Canada 2-0 on Thursday, however a FOX audio delay frustrated fans who tuned into FS1.

For the entire first half of the opening match commentators John Strong and Stu Holden were on a roughly two second delay. 

FOX has had audio issues in the past, but thankfully this time at least the audio was behind rather than two seconds ahead. There’s nothing worse than the commentators spoiling what you’re about to see.

Here were some examples of what the audio delay looked like in the highlights during the first half.

Argentina defeated Guatemala 4-1 Friday night at FedEx Field near Washington D.C. in a friendly with Lionel Messi scoring twice. The first Messi goal vs Guatemala came after a terrible goalkeeper blunder and gave the Inter Miami star the easiest goal of his career.

In the 12th minute Guatemala had a surprise 1-0 lead against the defending world champions. Disaster then struck in the Guatemalan penalty area as goalkeeper Nicholas Hagen had a careless giveaway.

If there’s one guy you don’t want to give the ball away to in front of your goal, it’s Messi.

Lionel Messi has hinted to his retirement as he shared with ESPN Argentina on Wednesday that Inter Miami will be the last club he plays for.

Messi will turn 37 on June 24 and will likely be playing in his final major international tournament with Argentina this summer in the Copa América. The 2022 World Cup winner hasn't set an official retirement date but said that Inter Miami will be his curtain call.

His contract with the Herons runs until the end of 2025.

Lionel Messi Inter Miami final club quote

Diego Maradona's Golden Ball trophy won for being named the best player at the 1986 World Cup will be auctioned in France in June, the Aguttes auction house said on Tuesday.

This is the first Golden Ball to go for auction and while the value is still to be confirmed, the auction house expects it to fetch millions on June 6.

EL DIEGO DE LOS MILAGROS

Increíble: el Balón de Oro que ganó Maradona por ser el mejor jugador del Mundial 1986 fue robado en 1989 y se creía que lo habían derretido