Sabasports Match Preview
Copa America: Argentina vs Canada
Kickoff Time: 2024-07-10 08:00 (HKT)
Source: USA TODAY Sports/Maria Lysaker
This is the semi-final of the 2024 Copa America. If there is a draw within 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will take place.
Unlike Brazil, Argentina have seen very few young talents emerge in the past two years. The main lineup still consists of players who won the World Cup in 2022, including Lionel Messi (37 years old), Angel Di Maria (36 years old), and Nicolas Otamendi (36 years old), who will start in the match. Argentina have an advantage of one extra day of rest compared to Canada, allowing their veteran players to fully recover. From a tactical standpoint, Argentina focus on ball control and aim to break through the opponent’s defense through precise passing and skillful control. When they struggle to find an offensive direction, captain Messi is their go-to player. His passes in front of the box can create openings in the opponent’s defense, while his long passes can lead to scoring opportunities. Defensively, Argentina’s strategy of applying pressure and movement in midfield effectively restricts the opponent’s organization and passing. This tactic allows them to control the game’s rhythm and reduce defensive pressure against strong opponents. It is expected that Argentina will continue to maintain possession and patiently search for weaknesses in the opponent’s defense through passing.
Canada have long embraced a friendly immigration system, an open refugee admission policy, and high-quality immigrant resettlement and community integration projects. These initiatives have provided opportunities for many talented young footballers to change their lives through the sport. Canada are primarily composed of dual citizens or immigrants, with Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David being among the best players. However, having a diverse and inclusive team can be a double-edged sword. While it improves overall strength, it can also lead to a lack of cohesion. In challenging situations, some players tend to give up easily. Canada have rarely demonstrated the ability to come from behind and win. Based on their performance in the Copa America, Canada struggle in both offense and defense. Their ability to handle pressure and make adjustments during matches is also poor. When players’ emotions fluctuate, their abilities suffer. In the previous game against Venezuela, Canada made 15 mistakes. Considering they will face a skilled player like Messi, even a minor mistake may result in conceding a goal.
They have met in the group stage, where Argentina comfortably defeated Canada 2-0. Throughout the game, Canada only possessed the ball 36% of the time, indicating a noticeable gap in strength between the two sides. In this rematch, we believe Argentina will secure an easy victory again.
Argentina’s Last 5 Games: DWWWW
24-07-05 Argentina 1-1 Ecuador (PEN 4-2)
24-06-30 Argentina 2-0 Peru
24-06-26 Chile 0-1 Argentina
24-06-21 Argentina 2-0 Canada
24-06-15 Guatemala 1-4 Argentina
Canada’s Last 5 Games: DDWLD
24-07-06 Venezuela 1-1 Canada (PEN 3-4)
24-06-30 Canada 0-0 Chile
24-06-26 Peru 0-1 Canada
24-06-21 Argentina 2-0 Canada
24-06-10 France 0-0 Canada
Head To Head Record:
24-06-21 Argentina 2-0 Canada
10-05-25 Argentina 5-0 Canada
Prediction: Argentina to win