Argentina’s defence of their Copa América title could hardly have gone any better in the group phase, winning all three matches without so much as conceding a goal.
Following victories over Canada, Chile and then Peru, la Albiceleste will travel to Houston for a quarter-final clash with Ecuador on July 4 but, ahead of that tie, we assess five things we’ve learnt about the World Champions at this tournament so far.
Argentina Copa América: 5 Things We’ve Learnt So Far
Emi Martínez Remains Rock-Solid
As alluded to, Argentina won all three Copa América group matches without conceding a goal, only the fifth team post-93 to achieve this, after Colombia in both 2019 and 2001 as well as Bolivia in ’97 and Brazil in ’95.
Across the three games, la Albiceleste allowed just six shots on target, totalling an xG allowed figure of 1.4, indebted to Emi Martínez, who’s taken his tally to a remarkable 31 clean sheets in just 42 international caps, letting in only 16 goals in these appearances.
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In front of him however, some credit has to go to the new first-choice centre-back partnership of Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero, with the Manchester United defender having usurped Nicolás Otamendi, now 36 years old, in the pecking order.
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Considering how defensively flakey Argentina had been at tournaments prior to this current iteration of the team, conceding six goals at Copa 2019 and nine at the World Cup the year before, this is a vast improvement and Martínez in goal is the face of their change.
Lautaro Martínez Has to Start up Front
Speaking of Martínezs, his namesake Lautaro has been the face of Argentina’s Copa campaign so far, despite not starting either of the first two matches.
He came off the bench to score in the 88th minute against both Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and then Chile at MetLife Stadium, the former securing the points while the latter was far more crucial, snatching a 1-0 victory at the death in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
As Lionel Scaloni heavily rotated his team for Saturday’s dead-rubber against Peru in Miami Gardens, the striker finally got the chance to start and he certainly staked his claim for a full-time starting spot, scoring both during a 2-0 win.
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Prior to this year, in the modern era, so post-1993, only five players had scored in all three group games at a Copa América, most recently Víctor Aristizábal of Colombia in 2001, as well as Paulo Wanchope (Costa Rica/2001), Luis Hernández (Mexico/1997), Luis García (Mexico/1995), and José Luis Dolgetta (Venezuela, 1993),
Aristizábal would also net in the quarters and semis, as Los Cafeteros went on to win the whole thing on home soil.
Jair (1949), Humberto Maschio (1957) and Javier Ambrois (also 1957) all scored nine times in a single edition, the tournament record, so while Martinez is unlikely to match that figure, given his current form, he may go close.
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Having said that, it’ll be interesting to see if he actually gets the nod to partner Lionel Messi in next Thursday’s quarter-final, or if Julián Álvarez returns.
Having scored 31 times for Inter this season, winning a first Capocannoniere award, many supporters wanted to see Lautaro lead the line pre-tournament, but Scaloni believes Álvarez is a better foil for Messi, so the manager faces a tough selection headache.
Lionel Scaloni Trusts His Squad
Across the first two matches, Scaloni used 18 different players, making three changes to his lineup for last Tuesday’s meeting with Chile, but utilising his full complement of five substitutes both times.
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With Germán Pezzella, Exequiel Palacios and Alejandro Garnacho starting on Saturday, with Lucas Martínez Quarta, Guido Rodríguez and Valentín Carboni coming off the bench in Florida, all 23 outfield players have seen some action across the group stages.
This would have been unthinkable not so long ago, when la Albiceleste’s squad, put frankly, featured a few players essentially making up the numbers, was announced. This is no longer the case, with everyone, in literal terms, able to contribute.
Life After Lionel Messi Is Bright
Sticking with that theme, for a long time, the Argentine team was viewed as Messi and ten others, with this reflected by how they played.
Turns out that getting the ball to Leo and hoping for the best was not a strategy conducive to winning major tournaments.
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Now though, there is serious talent throughout this team, that looks both deep and balanced, reflected by the fact they’ve lost just two of their last 42 competitive fixtures, dating back five years, the current holders of the Finalissima, Copa América and World Cup trophies.
It’s worth clarifying, make no mistake about it, Messi is still the best player on the team, which is still largely built around him, leading the way for both expected assists (2.4) and key passes (10), but as the 37-year-old’s powers start to wain, this side will still be competitive.
Argentina Are Going to Reach the Final
This isn’t a bold claim, but Argentina are going to be one of the two teams lining up for the final at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, July 14; we can guarantee it.
La Albiceleste were heavy favourites to hoist aloft a record-breaking 16th Copa trophy before a ball was kicked, not just because they’re holders and reigning world champions, but because all the other heavyweights are on the other side of the draw, namely Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay.
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Now, we already knew all of this as far back as December 7 when the draw was made in the James L. Knight Center, but Argentina’s clear path to the final has been crystallised.
At NRG Stadium on Thursday, they’ll face Ecuador in the last eight, before taking on either Venezuela or Canada again the following Tuesday in the semis, so it would require an almighty and historic Copa America upset for Scaloni’s side not to be in the final, but who they’ll meet there very much remains to be seen.
