- Argentina revalidated its title as champion in the midst of a tournament marred by controversy and failures in the organization of the matches
Argentina was consecrated 2024 Copa America champion by winning in the 112th minute once morest Colombia with a goal from Lautaro Martínez.
With intensity, emotion, nostalgia for the imminent retirement of some of the stars, the tournament, held in the United States, came to an end amid chaos and controversy.
This is a summary of the data and anecdotes that emerged from the 2024 Copa América final.
1. In the beginning was chaos
The 2024 Copa América final started one hour and 22 minutes following the scheduled time. Access problems caused by failures in entry logistics of fans at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The authorities’ resumption of control led to a complete closure of the entrances. This slowed down the entry of the public who had bought their tickets and, consequently, led to crowding and multiple fainting spells as a result of the high temperatures.
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) decided to delay the start of the final by half an hour, but the deadline for everything to return to normal was extended by almost another hour.
2. The myth of the myth grows
Lionel Messi, at 37 years of age, became the player who has played in the most finals in the history of the Copa América, with five caps in total.
In total, the captain of the Albiceleste reached the final stage of this tournament in 2007, 2015, 2016 and 2021. In addition, he surpassed his former teammate Javier Mascherano, current Argentine Olympic coach, who played in 2004, 2007, 2015 and 2016.
Messi, who had to leave the field in the 65th minute due to an ankle injury, also set a record for games played (39) and victories (24 so far) in this tournament and is, along with Brazilian Zizinho, Pelé’s idol and star in the finals of the 1940s and 1950s, the only player to have scored in six different editions (he only failed in 2011).
3. The first goodbye
Ángel Di María played his last match with the Argentine national team and did so by lifting the championship.
At 36 years of age, Di María announced on November 22, 2023, following beating Brazil in the qualifying phase, that the Copa América would be his last appearance with the Argentine national team.
According to him, he wanted it to be the continental tournament because he considers that winning the title in 2021 was the key to the triumphant cycle that he has followed with coach Lionel Scaloni’s team.
4. Argentina finishes undefeated and Colombia hopes for revenge
The Colombian national team built an unbeaten streak that lasted 28 games and started with a 1-0 defeat to Argentina on February 1, 2022 with a goal from striker Lautaro Martínez, on that occasion.
But 2 years, 5 months, and 13 days later, the same Argentine team put an end to the Colombian team’s sweet period by winning the 48th edition of the 2024 Copa América with a 1-0 victory.
Colombia’s bitter taste might change in 58 days, on September 10, when Argentina and Colombia face each other in the seventh round of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
5. Dibu Martínez and James, gala players
Argentine Emiliano ‘el Dibu’ Martínez was proclaimed the best goalkeeper of the 2024 Copa América, in which he only allowed one goal following six games.
El Dibu was the hero of the team’s passage to the quarter-finals, where he rescued Argentina in the penalty shoot-out once morest Ecuador.
James Rodríguez, captain of the runner-up Colombia team, won the award for best player of the Copa América and received another award for his team for fair play.
Rodríguez said goodbye to the continental tournament with six assists out of the 12 goals he scored in the competition.
6. 70 goals in 32 games and a top scorer with 5
Argentine striker Lautaro el Toro Martínez came on for extra time in the final and in the 112th minute scored his fifth goal in the tournament, which guaranteed him the title of top scorer of the tournament.
The Inter Milan striker won the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the 2024 Copa América.
In the 32 matches of the competition, 70 goals were scored for an average of 2.1 per game.
With information from EFE
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2024-07-15 23:34:45
