Lionel Messi couldn't shine like he should. What is shining, he missed an easy chance at the end. He was more focused on defending repeatedly, following Argentina's strategy.
But the regret of not being able to play well doesn't seem to bother Messi much. Why would Messi remember all this on the day of the end of his career?
Messi had only one regret—not being able to win anything in the Argentina jersey. That regret has disappeared today. And how! Argentina defeated Neymar's Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final on Brazilian soil, at the Maracana, Brazil's football stadium.
Messi's regrets were finally repaid by Di Maria's goal. In the 21st minute, Di Maria intercepted Rodrigo Di Paul's dazzling pass from midfield and chipped the ball into the net with a great chip. That was what finally repaid Messi's regrets.
The football gods had probably decided that Messi's long wait for his future would end in a match like this. There could not have been a greater occasion than this! Ever since Neymar began to shine in his international career, football has been waiting for a Messi vs. Neymar final. But that has never happened in the World Cup, and the Copa America has never seen anything like it. Today is the first time at the Maracana.
Both Neymar and Messi cried. Neymar's tears were about not being able to win a major title for Brazil despite coming so close, while Messi's tears were filled with the heavenly joy of winning it all after much hardship.
All the calculations on paper and in pen before the match, however, indicated the opposite. Brazil is currently the strongest team in South America. Whether in the rankings or in the names of the players. The statistics will prove it. Today's loss to Argentina was Brazil's first loss to a Latin team since losing to Peru in the group stage of Euro 2016. That Brazil five years ago was Dunga's Brazil.
What a great strategy Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has chosen today to stop Brazil, who are shining under Tite! Brazil coach Tite did not make any changes to the semi-final XI, but Scaloni did not suppress practical thinking at all when it came to making changes before the final. The loopholes worked great!
Scaloni brought in Cristian Romero, who has recovered from a knee injury, in the centre of defence, and the defender, who played for Italian club Atalanta, played brilliantly before being substituted in the 78th minute. There were also changes at full-back, with Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna both playing well. However, the change that Scaloni made the most effective was bringing in Angel Di Maria in attack.
He has shone as a substitute in the previous few matches in the tournament, but today Scaloni played Di Maria from the start.
Of Brazil's two fullbacks, left-back Renan Lodi is more aggressive in attack, and Di Maria was brought in with the idea that he could use his speed to make Brazil suffer by taking advantage of the space he left.
This thought was rewarded with Argentina's goal. From the beginning, both teams played very cautious football, and neither had much of a chance. However, Argentina dominated the first half. The goal came suddenly in the 21st minute. Di Maria and Acuña were moving up and down the two wings of Argentina, taking up space and waiting for the ball to fly from the midfield. The goal came with that strategy.
Rodrigo Di Paul, who has been the lifeblood of Argentina's midfield throughout the match, sent a wonderful through ball to Di Maria from just inside the midfield circle. Di Maria controlled it, while Renan Lodio, who was standing next to him, made a mistake while trying to stop him! And where does it go? Brazil goalkeeper Ederson came forward and tried to stop Di Maria, but Ederson, who was standing helplessly, was unable to stop the Argentine winger's great chip.
Before the match, there was a discussion about how Brazil would stop Messi, and Argentina would stop Neymar. They didn't have to wait long to get the answer. As soon as Messi had the ball, three Brazilians surrounded him. The strategy worked well for Brazil. Messi couldn't shine like that.
Argentina have taken a different approach to stopping Neymar. Lucas Paqueta has been the creative force in Brazil's midfield throughout the tournament, and he has also created a midfield connection with Neymar. Argentina have therefore played today by breaking the Paqueta-Neymar connection, rather than leaving two or three players behind Neymar. Before striker Roberto Firmino came on in place of midfielder Fred in the second half, Argentina have scored 100 out of 100 with that strategy.
Brazil, who failed to create any chances in the first half, increased their attack in the second half after Firmino came on. Neymar played brilliantly in this match. He created chances repeatedly, but no one could take advantage of them! Brazil even had the ball in the net once in the 52nd minute, but Richarlison's goal was ruled out for offside. Two minutes later, Richarlison's great shot was blocked by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who made his place in Argentina's history with this tournament, with the speed of a hawk.
Argentina, who strengthened their midfield and defense against Brazil's attacking substitutions, finally managed to overcome the deficit. They created more clear-cut opportunities on the counterattack. Messi himself failed to put an end to the counterattack led by Messi in the 89th minute. Messi had a great through ball from Di Paul, but he could not get the shot right.
Failure didn't make Messi cry in the end. Messi did cry, but it wasn't a cry of failure. Messi probably never cried more tears of happiness on the football field!
