Argentina’s Copa America campaign got off to the worst possible start as they fell to a 2-0 defeat to Colombia - but Captain Lionel Messi vowed afterwards that the team is still “up for the challenge.”
Colombia claimed a first win over their South American rivals since 2007 thanks to a superb goal from substitute Roger Martinez in the 71st minute and a second from fellow substitute Duvan Zapata 15 minutes later at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, reports Goal.
Argentina had dominated for large spells during the game, as Messi failed to head home a rebound from close range for what was their best chance.
Messi was cynically scythed down by Juan Cuadrado in the second half, earning himself a yellow card and sparking a mass melee on the pitch.
Colombia saw out the win to put them top of Group B, while it was more misery for an Argentinian team looking to win a first major trophy since victory at the tournament in 1993.
Captain Messi said after the game that the team was still “up for the fight.”
“We are ready to accept the challenge we have. There is not time to complain, we have to look forward. We have to raise our heads
and continue,” the Barcelona
star said.
Argentina, this year coached by Lionel Scaloni, have suffered defeat in the last two Copa America finals, losing each time to Chile on penalties.
The tournament is seen as a chance at international redemption for Messi, who has lost in four finals with the national team and has no major silverware to show in more than a decade – despite all his glittering success with club side Barcelona.
Despite the reverse the Barcelona star believes there is time for his country to turn it around.
“There are positives to come out of this, we are ready to accept the challenge that we have,” Messi said after the game.
“There is no time to complain, we have to look ahead, we have to raise our heads and continue, there’s still a lot of the tournament left.
“They kept the ball well but didn’t create clear opportunities, but when we took a step forwards in the second half they scored a goal.
“When we were playing at our best, they scored a great goal and it cost us.”
Messi said that his team will learn from the defeat, their first in regular time in the competition since going down do Brazil in 2007.
“We’ll take it as a lesson for the upcoming games. We continue to depend on ourselves.
“It’s not easy to start with a loss, but if we beat Paraguay, we go back to a comfortable situation.”
The Albiceleste’s game against Paraguay is on June 19, and they finish their Group B campaign with a match against Copa America invitees Qatar.
Messi has seen his country advance to the final in the last two editions of the tournament. In each match they were defeated by Chile on penalties.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni was angry at the state of the pitch in the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador.
