June 21, (THEWILL) – Argentina’s national football team kicked off their Copa America 2024 campaign with a 2-0 victory over Canada at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. However, the match was overshadowed by criticism of the playing surface from both manager Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
The reigning world and continental champions secured the win through goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. Despite the positive result, Scaloni expressed deep dissatisfaction with the pitch condition, which had been hastily converted from artificial turf to grass just days before the tournament began.
Scaloni compared the situation to Argentina’s 2022 World Cup match against Saudi Arabia, noting that the pitch quality was even worse in Atlanta. He emphasised that the stadium’s management had ample time to prepare a suitable surface, given that the venue had been known for seven months.
Emiliano Martinez echoed his manager’s sentiments, describing the field as a “disaster” and suggesting that such conditions could negatively impact the overall quality of the Copa America compared to its European counterpart. The goalkeeper highlighted the challenges posed by the poor pitch, especially when facing a physically strong Canadian side.
On a more positive note, the match marked a significant milestone for Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who became the record appearance maker in Copa America history with his 35th game in the tournament. Messi acknowledged the difficulty of the match, praising Canada’s physicality and noting Argentina’s improved performance in the second half.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
