The Copa America 2021 schedule will begin on the 13th of June 2021. All of the matches will take place between June 13th and July 10th, 2021. Only ten countries will compete in this year's competition, which will be split into two groups. The quarter-finals will be contested by only four teams. Argentina has had the most tumultuous campaign, having appeared in three finals and winning none of them. Argentina hasn't won the Copa America since 1993, and Lionel Messi is heading the team this time in the hopes of ending their losing streak.
In the midst of a huge debate about whether the tournament should be held or not, the Argentina Football Association (AFA) has declared that Argentina will compete in the Copa America in Brazil beginning on June 13. Players like Casemiro, Luis Suarez, and Juan Cuadrado have openly declared their opposition to the tournament, but the Argentina squad has not.
Lionel Messi has been chosen by Lionel Scaloni to represent Argentina at the Copa America in 2021. While Lionel Messi's selection was expected, Lionel Scaloni surprised Argentine fans by leaving out Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi. Copa America begins a few days after the World Cup qualifications, and both are expected to be absent from the competition.
Argentina Copa America 2021 Squad:
Goalkeepers - Emiliano Martínez, Juan Musso, Agustín Marchesín
Defenders - Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Germán Pezzella, José Luis Palomino, Lucas Martínez Quarta, Juan Foyth, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Marcos Acuña, Nahuel Molina
Midfielders - Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Rodrigo de Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Nicolás Domínguez
Attackers - Lucas Ocampos, Nicolás González, - Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, Emiliano Buendía, - Joaquín Correa, Papu Gómez, Lautaro Martínez, Ángel Correa, Sergio Agüero, Lucas Alario
Key Player: Lionel Messi
The upcoming Copa America holds special meaning for Messi, despite the fact that it is not being held in his native country, as he had intended. He will turn 34 during Copa America, so it could be his final realistic chance to win a big international prize, which has eluded him throughout his career. The Argentina captain will be 35 for next year's World Cup, and Argentina will not be among the favourites to win the tournament. By the time the next Copa America takes place in 2024, he will be 37 years old and, as hard as it is to contemplate, he may no longer be playing professionally. Before coming to South America for the World Cup qualifiers, Messi was in red-hot form for Barcelona and he will expect it to continue till Copa America.
Also Read | Most successful teams in Copa America
Strengths and Weaknesses :
Lionel Scaloni has often deployed a 4-4-2 formation with Argentina. In 2019 Copa America, Argentina played in the same formation against Qatar and Brazil. Lautaro Martinez and Messi are the obvious names to play upfront ahead of Paredes and De Paul double pivot. Ocampos and Di Maria can start as wide wingers. Argentina also have two brilliant defenders in Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez. Emiliano Martinez’s emergence in the Premier League has allowed Argentina to have a quality goalkeeper after a long time. The apparent issue with Argentina's 4-4-2 is that Di Maria and Messi are not workhorses at this age. On the left side, Di Maria has a lower efficacy. Di Maria is squandered in the left-midfield position since he does not have the opportunity to employ his entire skillset. This formation's only advantage is that it allows Argentina to use both strikers.
The squad selection has been mysterious. Exequiel Palacios has been named in Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad, although the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder is expected to be out for roughly eight weeks. He suffered an injury to his right adductor, which the Bundesliga club has already revealed. Sergio Aguero has been chosen in the group despite not having been at his best for Manchester City this season, but Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icadi have been left out.
