Argentina’s Copa America title defence will start in Group A, where they’ll take on Chile, Canada, and Peru in the group stage, and beating them all is not, by any means, a walk in the park.
That is because Chile, Canada, and Peru have weapons of their own that could pose problems for the reigning champions, as all of them can create Copa America 2024 highlights for their respective teams.
La Albiceleste are favoured by the Copa America 2024 odds to win it all this year, but if the stars click for their group stage opponents, then their path might not be as straightforward as they think.
Without further ado, learn more about the players to look out for in Group A here at SBOTOP.
Lionel Messi, Argentina
While it has been established that Argentina will no longer need to rely heavily on Lionel Messi, the fact remains that he is still the team’s most influential player heading into this continental tournament.
The 36-year-old forward said that he won’t retire from international football just yet, which is good news since he remains a dominant force in Major League Soccer, as he’s the joint-leading scorer and top playmaker for Inter Miami so far this season, with 10 league goals and 12 assists.
Lionel Messi broke Major League Soccer records in Inter Miami’s 6-2 victory over the NY Red Bulls on Sunday. The 2022 World Cup champion became the first player in the league to make five assists in a single match, and he also became the first player to record six goal contributions when he also scored a goal of his own.
The only concern for Messi is his overall health, since he has dealt with minor injuries in the past few months. He was, after all, not named on the national team during the March international break due to a hamstring injury, although, to their credit, they didn’t miss a beat.
Other than his undeniable ability on the pitch, Messi’s leadership is going to be immense for La Albiceleste, which was evident during their 2022 World Cup run.
Ben Brereton Diaz, Chile
Chile will need firepower to keep up in Group A, and their best bet is going to be Sheffield United striker Ben Brereton Diaz.
The 25-year-old forward joined the Blades on loan during the January transfer window, on loan from Villarreal, and he has lived up to the hype, leading the team in scoring with six goals so far.
Ben Brereton Diaz burst onto the scene when he earned his first national team call-up during the 2021 Copa America. Since then, he has recorded seven goals in 27 caps for La Roja.
Diaz was shockingly dropped by head coach Ricardo Gareca during the March international break because of his inability to converse well with his national teammates. According to Gareca, Diaz must learn to speak Spanish if he is to be reintegrated into the team.
Learning to speak Spanish isn’t exactly a mandatory requirement for Ben Brereton Diaz, but these next few weeks should give him enough time to do so, as it will translate to better chemistry on the pitch.
But either way, it would be foolish for Chile to drop Ben Brereton Diaz just because of the language barrier. Just in case La Roja does, they would have to rely heavily on their veterans, Alexis Sanchez, Charles Aranguiz, and Arturo Vidal, which is far from ideal.
Alphonso Davies and Jonathan David, Canada
Canada are one of the newest participants in the Copa America, and they’re eager to make a good first impression by advancing from the group stage of this tournament.
The Reds are littered with exciting young talent, and the two to watch out for are Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies, both of whom have yet to reach 25 years old.
Blessed with searing pace and underrated strength, David is currently second in the Ligue 1 Golden Boot race with 17 league goals for Lille so far this season. Because his stock has continuously risen, he will attract numerous suitors, such as AC Milan and Aston Villa, in the upcoming summer transfer window.
On the other side of the pitch, there’s Alphonso Davies, who plays the left-back position despite having the speed and ball handling of a winger.
Like David, Davies is also linked to a possible exit from his current club in the offseason, with Real Madrid being his top admirer.
With 41 goals in 91 caps combined thus far for Canada, Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies are going to be a handful against Argentina, Chile, and Peru in the tournament.
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