World champions Argentina are now eyeing to defend their Copa America title hosted by the USA in 2024. Manager Lionel Scaloni submitted the final 26-member list on the deadline day, 15th June 2024 with 21 of them part of the trophy lift in Qatar two years ago. La Albiceleste has the chance now to replicate Spain’s era of dominance when they won three competitions consecutively, two continental trophies back-to-back and the World Cup in between. Argentina will kick off the Copa America tournament against Canada on 21 June 2024 with their old rivals Chile and Peru taking the other places in Group A.
History
Clinching 15 titles in Copa America history, Argentina are the joint-most holders of the competition alongside Uruguay. Although the side finished as runners-up in three of the first four editions, La Albiceleste won their first honour in 1921 on home soil with Américo Tesoriere becoming the first goalkeeper and first Argentinian to be awarded as the best player of the tournament. Six of Argentina’s title victories have come at home while they are the only side to have won three consecutive Copa America between 1945-1947. The World Cup winners reached four more finals since the turn of the century. After losing twice against Brazil and Chile in back-to-back final matches in 2004,2007, 2015 and 2016, Argentina got the breakthrough by beating the Selecao in 2021 after waiting 28 years to win the title. While footballing superstar Lionel Messi has played a tournament-high 34 matches, Norberto Méndez has scored the joint-record 17 goals in the competition's history with Brazil's Zizinho.
Preparation for Copa America 2024
Lionel Scaloni’s team are leading the 2026 World Cup qualification table, two points better than Uruguay although the only defeat in the campaign so far came against them. Argentina has lost just twice in five years which is a massive achievement. The team collected four straight wins in the build-up to the Copa America with the last one against Guatemala seeing Serie A top-scorer Lautaro Martínez and captain Lionel Messi scoring a brace in the 4-1 win.
Argentina squad for Copa America 2024
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate), Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Defenders: Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina), Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest), Germán Pezzella (Real Betis), Marcos Acuña (Sevilla), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma), Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético Madrid), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur), Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Forwards: Julián Álvarez (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Ángel Di María (Benfica), Nicolás González (Fiorentina), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), Valentín Carboni (Monza), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan), Brian Ocampo (Cadiz)
Captain: Lionel Messi
Manager: Lionel Scaloni
Angel Correa, Valentin Barco and Leonardo Balerdi did not make the final team from the provisional squad. Paulo Dybala is not considered in the first place despite his 26-goal contributions for Roma in all competitions this past season. Manchester United’s defender Lisandro Martínez despite his injury woes. The depth of the squad will be a key factor for Argentina going deep into the competition. Winning goal-scorer in the final last time, Angel Di Maria is set to retire from international duties after this tournament.
How will Argentina Lineup at Copa America 2024?
Argentina Fixtures for Copa America 2024
Friday, 21 June 2024
Argentina vs Canada - Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta (05:30)
Wednesday, 26 June 2024
Chile vs Argentina - Metlife Stadium, New Jersey (06:30)
Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Argentina vs Peru - Hard Rock Stadium, Florida (05:30)
Prediction
Failing to defend the Copa America title will come as a surprise for the side possessing the best in every position. Argentina has also got an easy pathway to consecutive finals with only a catastrophic failure preventing them from fulfilling their goal in the tournament. La Albiceleste will be charged up knowing that the competition will be the last for Di Maria and probably for Messi. The World champions have a great chance to create an era of dominance.
