Messi was not the only change to Argentina’s starting XI as midfield duo Banega and Augusto Fernandez got the nod over Lucas Biglia and Erik Lamela, who both started in a 1-0 win over Honduras on May 27.
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Messi’s FC Barcelona team Claudio Bravo – Chile’s goalkeeper – said Saturday he is rooting for the Argentine’s quick recovery.
Chile is the holder of the competition, having won its first worldwide trophy in 99 years last summer on home soil, and although the team not quite at the level it reached under the since departed Jorge Sampaoli, Juan Antonio Pizzi’s men can still be expected to take the game to their vaunted opposition.
Jose Pedro Fuenzalida scored for Chile just before the game ended.
Chile scored early to take the lead, but Argentina answered back with two goals in the next 14 minutes to secure the three points.
Arturo Vidal, Chile’s star from Bayern Munich, wants his rival to play “not only for Argentina but for the sake of soccer”, he said on Sunday night. Argentina face Panama, who were also victorious today, next while Chile face Bolivia.
“He has continued working here, he’s kicking the ball better now”, Martino said.
Argentina didn’t need the world’s most spectacular soccer player Monday night at Levi’s Stadium to unleash a dominating and emotional performance for the opening act of the Copa America Centenario.
“Lionel Messi is famously small, standing at only 5′ 7”, but his larger-than-life persona casts a long shadow and his fitness struggles are all anybody is talking about as the Selección prepare for Chile. Only this time Di Maria served it up and Banega finished it from nearly exactly the same spot – again at Bravo’s near post, only this time with a deflection off the tip of Mauricio Isla’s cleat.
Alexis Sanchez had Chile’s first chance moments later.
However, they last met in March 2016 in a World Cup 2018 qualifying game in Santiago when Argentina won 2-1 coming back from behind. “We deserved to win”, Martino said. Di Maria supplied a perfectly flighted ball from the right and the Benfica midfielder’s header clipped the top of the crossbar.
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No other team than Chile has faced another nation in the Copa America as many times as they did against Argentina (25) without winning. Our boys Jamaica froze on the big stage, Rodolph Austin got himself sent off after just 24 minutes, and the Reggae Boyz lost 1-0 to Venezuela.
