Messi And Argentina Begin Copa América With Predictably Disastrous Defeat

When Lionel Messi declared that Argentina “are not candidates like other times” and that this is a side “going through a process of change,” he wasn’t messing around. The only surprising thing about Argentina’s opening Copa América defeated to Colombia on Saturday night is that Messi himself spurned a glorious opportunity to put La Albiceleste ahead in the 66th minute.

Colombia took full advantage of that miss with Roger Martinez hitting a stunning game-winner in the 71st before Duvan Zapata added the insurance goal in the 86th. 

With eight of the 12 competing nations advancing to the quarterfinals, there’s still a lot of Copa left to be played, but it’s impossible to imagine this Argentina side troubling the likes of Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile in the knockout rounds. 

Argentina exerted a bit of control in the first half, and there was a little bit of sparkle from Messi when the 31-year-old momentarily looked clear on goal following an impetuous nutmeg, but Colombia cleared the danger. 

#CA2019Telemundo ¡Gran jugada de #Messi! con todo y caño, pero Barrios logra detenerlo para alejar el peligro #ARG pic.twitter.com/v7hdfUqhBx

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 15, 2019

As ever, a meeting between these rivals generated a bit of nastiness, including 30 fouls and seven yellow cards. One foul on Messi almost triggered a mass brawl.  

#CA2019Telemundo ¡ Qué falta de @Cuadrado sobre #Messi! y todo el plantel se fue a defender a su capitán
Amarilla, ¿o era para roja? pic.twitter.com/YBHUdzcwrd

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 15, 2019

Shortly after, Messi couldn’t capitalize with a free header from close range. 

Five minutes after Messi’s miss, Martinez scored a brilliant effort to put Colombia ahead. 

#CA2019Telemundo ¡Señor gol! se mandó @rogermartinezt9 y ya tiene ganando a #Colombia 1-0 sobre #Argentina pic.twitter.com/r7Zq3Yx1UH

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 15, 2019

The second from Zapata arrived with Argentina pushing numbers forward in search of an equalizer. 

#CA2019Telemundo ¡Qué jugada de gol! gran asistencia de @rogermartinezt9 para que Duvan Zapata definiera como "Killer" y @FCFSeleccionCol sella su triunfo ante la @Argentina pic.twitter.com/loFYMpHYLn

— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 15, 2019

Colombia plays the early match on Wednesday, June 19, against Qatar. Argentina plays Paraguay later in the day. Group B play finishes on Sunday, June 23, with Argentina playing Qatar and Colombia facing Paraguay.