The precedent of Maradona's victory, Alfajores Garci, and the recipe for overcoming Messi

Canada He is experiencing his football spring. It is a long way from being that primitive team that finished last in World Cup Mexico 1986 With a team of two players, in large numbers, they were not playing in an 11-man field. In recent years, he has not only returned to the elite after his participation in… Qatar 2022But in 2023 he also reached a tournament final CONCACAF Nations League.

With this momentum, on Saturday they beat Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 and qualified for the 2025 Copa America in the United States, where they will have the honor of participating in the opening match against the Argentine national team, the defending champion, at the majestic Mercedes-Benz Atlanta Stadium. It will also be the opener for Group A, which also includes Chile and Peru.

Canada did not face many problems in securing a ticket to the continental tournament, which will be held between June 20 and July 14 and will bring together the ten CONMEBOL teams and six CONCACAF teams.

in view of Trinidad and Tobagowhich was also fighting for its first Copa América presence, took 61 minutes of dominance for Canada to take the lead thanks to a long opening goal. Sil Larin. The Spanish Mallorca striker crowned a beautiful attacking combination with a precise cross shot that did not deprive Denzel Smith of any opportunity.

Already at the time of injury, Jacob Schavelborga winger for FC Nashville of Major League Soccer who came to drive Inter Miami crazy Lionel MessiHe came off the bench and finished off the ticket by completing a counterattack with his powerful left foot.

This is a serious competitor for Argentina. His personality is Alphonso Daviesin which he plays Bayern Munich. But the speedy left-back is not alone. The team he leads Mauro Belloa former striker by profession, has an interesting team and has a good goalkeeper Maxime Crepeauwho fights in Portland Timbers From MLS and experienced defenders such as Kamal Milleris also a member of the Oregon franchise after being a teammate of La Pulga Inter Miami.

But beyond the hierarchy Davies – a top player by any standard – has good versatility in attack. In addition to Larin – who plays in the Spanish League – and Schafelborg – the runner nicknamed the Canadian Messi – they are afraid of them. Jonathan Davidobstacle night French, and Ike Ogbotip of Sheffield Wednesdayfrom the English Championship.

Hence the enthusiasm of Davies, who warned that they were going to the Copa America with the idea of ​​being champions, and why not strike. “It is an honor for us,” said the 23-year-old, the son of Liberians born in Ghana. “We fought hard and won and we are happy to qualify. We are excited and ready to fight.” refugee camp and came to Edmonton, Canada, to begin writing its history.

The left side, One of the fastest football players todayHe was excited about the opportunity to face Scalonetta. “It will be a difficult match, of course. They are world champions. There is nothing I can say that has not been said about them. They are a great team. We will have to prepare for this occasion and fight hard.” He pointed out.

And He is happier to have Messi on the other side of the pitch again.whom he referred to on numerous occasions as his great idol. “I am happy to play against the best player in the world and have the opportunity to beat him with my team,” he said from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, after the victory over the Trinidadians.

It is not a simple fact. Davies has a special record against the best player in the world: he has faced him three times and has never lost. They were in clashes for the Champions League, and he of course defended the almighty Bayern Munich: in the quarter-finals of the 2020 edition, he knocked out Messi's Barcelona – a famous 2-8 in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic – and in 2023 he began his career with Paris. Saint-Germain, with Leo in the team, in two rounds of 16 matches. On that occasion, the Canadian took Rosario's 30th jacket to his personal museum.

On June 20, in Atlanta, this will be the second time that Argentina and Canada meet in a soccer match. The only precedent dates back to May 24, 2010.when the North American team job As a partner of the national team led by Diego Maradona in the last preparatory match for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, it was a farewell party held at the Monumental and ended with a resounding 5-0 victory with two goals from Maxi. Rodriguez and one of Angel Di Maria, Carvellos Tevez and Sergio Con Aguero.

The national team consists of Sergio Romero. Jonas Gutierrez, Nicolas Burdisso, Nicolas Otamendi, Gabriel Heinz; Javier Mascherano; Maxi Rodriguez, Javier Pastore, Di Maria; Gonzalo Higuain and Tevez. Clemente Rodriguez, Mario Bolatti, Juan Sebastian Veron, Ariel Garci, Martin Palermo and Kun Aguero entered the second half. Messi, who was experiencing some discomfort, did not play a single minute.

That match, which was only a story because of the result – Argentina reached the quarter-finals of the African World Cup, where it faced Germany – also left a pearl. The popular ingenuity of the masses has left the Argentine flag with a message for history “Garci, get the fajores.” Dedicated to former player river And based on Colon Which was the biggest surprise in the list that Maradona put together.

I was living a great moment, I couldn't believe that I would travel and fulfill one of my dreams. One of the masseuses was always carrying me, bringing the chorizos from Tandil or bringing the alfajores, he told me, and then the thing about the flag happened on the field. At that moment, when we were singing the national anthem, I saw the flag, but I did not understand. Then I realized… He was so witty, so good, and really funny“, the defender later said in an interview with Carbonation In 2019.

“There was nothing that overshadowed the moment I was living: going to the World Cup when I was 30, with friends who had never been to the coast before, with my mother and uncles, it was nice to experience that,” Garci concluded. . .