Lionel Messi showcased his passing brilliance as Argentina began their Copa America title defense with a 2-0 victory over Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, overcoming both their opponents and a poor playing surface.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve done this,” Messi said through a translator. “But we had patience to retain possession of the ball and it was hard to find the good open spaces.”
Messi’s through ball led to Julián Álvarez’s 49th-minute goal, and he assisted on Lautaro Martínez’s 88th-minute score.
Albiceleste coach, Lionel Scaloni, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez criticized the grass surface at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, installed after a Major League Soccer game played on the usual artificial turf.
“The field was a disaster,” Martínez said. “It seems like a springboard with the ball jumping. They need to improve this. If not, Copa America will always be at a lower level than the Euro.”
Scaloni added, “They knew seven months ago that we will be playing here and they changed the surface a few days ago. It’s not an excuse, but this wasn’t a good field. Sincerely, the field is not apt for these players.”
Canadian defender Kamal Miller also criticized the surface. “It felt like walking on a stage, as if it was hollow,” he said.
A crowd of 70,564 attended the opener of the 32-game tournament. The United States plays Panama at the stadium on June 27.
Messi set a Copa America record with his 35th match, one more than Chile’s Sergio Livingstone from 1941-53. Messi extended his own record with his 18th assist.
Messi created the first goal when he headed a pass through the defense for Alexis Mac Allister.
The midfielder side-footed a pass to Álvarez, who kicked the ball in over a sliding defender for his eighth goal in 32 international appearances.
Messi extended his Copa America record when he ran through the center of the midfield and rolled a perfectly weighted pass to Martínez, who slotted it past Crépeau for his 25th international goal.
“In the first half we did well defensively and we had a couple of chances but at this level you have to finish your chances,” new Canada captain Alphonso Davies said. “If you make mistakes they punish you, and that’s what they did today.”
Messi failed to convert on a pair of excellent chances. Crépeau made a diving stop in the 65th minute and Messi’s attempt off the rebound was blocked by the head of defender Derek Cornelius. Messi put a chip wide after he came in alone on Crépeau in the 79th.
Argentina plays Chile on Tuesday at East Rutherford, New Jersey, then closes the first round against Peru on June 29 at Miami Gardens, Florida.
Canada faces Peru on Tuesday at Kansas City, Kansas, and finishes the group stage against Chile on June 29 at Orlando, Florida.
Canada made its Copa America debut and played its first competitive match under American coach Jesse Marsch, hired on May 13. The Canadians have not scored in three games under Marsch.
“Before we played these three matches, I said to the team that no matter what happens in the three matches, we have to come out of it stronger and develop ourselves and be more confident and have more belief,” Marsch said. “I think where we sit right now, as painful as it is to know that we let this game slip away.”
Argentina started eight players who began the 2022 World Cup final victory over France, inserting central defender Lisandro Martínez, left back Marcos Acuña and Leandro Paredes for Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico and Enzo Fernández.
After the final whistle, Davis exchanged jerseys with Messi.
“Being on the pitch, playing against him was truly a blessing,” Davies said.
