Sports

Argentina Players Slam Copa America Field After 2-0 Win Over Canada To Start Tournament

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The Argentina Men’s National Team began its defense of the Copa America title with a 2-0 victory over Canada on Thursday night.

But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

La Albiceleste struggled to find an end product against the Canadians, with even the great Leo Messi missing a pair of sitters.

Now, however, we know that a good number of those struggles could be put down to poor field conditions, which both teams complained about after the match.

“The state of the pitch was a disaster,” Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez said after the match. “Very bumpy. We must improve in this aspect, otherwise, Copa América will always appear at a lower level than the European Championship.”

Mercedes-Benz Stadium typically uses a turf field. But the facility covered its usual field with natural grass just two days prior to the start of the tournament.

“The game was like that of Saudi Arabia in the World Cup, except that one had a good pitch,” manager Lionel Scaloni said after the match, referencing his team’s World Cup loss.. “Better that we won, or else it would have appeared as an excuse, but they knew seven months ago that we’d play here and they changed the field two days ago. It’s not an excuse, but this isn’t a good field. Sincerely, the field is not apt for these players.

“We gave not necessarily a good game, but a game according to the pitch and what the rival proposed. We couldn’t do much more with the conditions of the pitch. Look at the speed of the passes that we did.”

Second-half goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez saw the No. 1 team in the FIFA World Rankings claim victory. But even in defeat, Canadian players spoke out about the field.

“It felt like walking on a stage, as if it was hollow,” Canadian center back Kamal Miller said of the surface.

Copa America is traditionally contested between South American teams. But this year’s special edition takes place in the United States with 10 teams from South America and six from CONCACAF (including the USMNT).