“We chose to unite.”
It could have been another banal cliché, not out of place in a sports world where speech is mostly sanitised. But last Thursday, it was loaded with significance and poignancy in the wake of a devastating mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub on June 12, which left 50 people dead.
“The attack in Orlando was unspeakable. Conceived in hatred. Intended to hurt and divide,” went the joint statement from the United States men’s and women’s football (soccer) teams. “Instead, we choose to unite. One Nation. One Team.”
It was in this emotional backdrop that the United States took on Ecuador in their Copa America quarter-final on Thursday night. Ecuador could well have been slight favourites, but powered by goals from Jermaine Jenas and Gyasi Zardes, the United States team finally gave its grieving population some cause for celebration. This is the first time they have entered the semi-finals stage at the Copa America in over two decades, after the 1995 edition of the tournament in Uruguay.
Messi lies ahead
Few would have expected the US to get to the last four, especially after their 2-0 loss to Colombia in their opener. But now that they have, there is an unexpected optimism. Their coach Jurgen Klinsmann has even expressed confidence that they can win the title. But, of course, to do that, they will have to go past a certain Lionel Messi and his Argentina team.
Even without the talented Nico Gaitain, who is suspended, Argentina’s line-up is frightening. They have scored 14 goals in the tournament and only conceded twice. The likes of Gonzalo Higuain, Angel di Maria and Erik Lamela are all in form. There is Sergio Aguero on the bench and, above all, there is Messi.
This tournament has seen a different Messi. Long criticised for being a lamb on the international stage, the Barcelona player has sizzled like he never has before for Argentina after missing the team’s opening victory against Chile because of an injury. Messi scored a hat-trick in 26 minutes after being brought on as a second-half substitute in his team’s 5-0 dismantling of Panama and then followed it up with a goal and two assists after starting against Venezuela in the quarter-finals.
His goal against Venezuela made him the highest goal-scorer in Argentinean football, level with legend Gabriel Batistuta. And, rather ominously for USA, Messi indicated that he still has unfinished business as he reminded everyone that he still hasn’t broken the record.
USA can perhaps draw some solace from Argentina’s less than impressive recent record at global tournaments, something which Messi is desperate to change this time around. Argentina faltered in the finals of their last two tournaments, going down to Germany in the 2014 World Cup and then to Chile in last year’s Copa America. It’s something which their coach Tata Martino will undoubtedly be aware of and will want to change.
Red-hot Chile
The winner of USA vs Argentina will travel to the Metlife Stadium in New Jersey and await the winner of the other semi-final between Chile and Colombia. It is a matchup, which at first glance, looks mismatched. Chile are surging: they will approach the match supremely confident of themselves. Over a period of 90 minutes, they hammered one of the pre-tournament favourites, Mexico, 7-0, playing some scintillating football.
All their brightest stars were on show. Eduardo Vargas scored four goals, Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez got his name on the scoresheet and even the unlikely Edson Puch got a brace. Chile’s defence was rock-solid, denying Mexico’s Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez any space to work his magic. It came to such a stage that the few Mexico fans remaining in the stands took to sarcastically shouting “Ole!” when a Chilean player touched the ball in the last few minutes.
Colombia can only hope that Chile have peaked too early. The quarter-finalists of the 2014 World Cup have had a difficult run after posting two bright wins at the start. They were off-colour against Costa Rica and had their goalkeeper David Ospina to thank for getting past Peru.
The Arsenal goalkeeper pulled off a great save in the dying stages of the game to keep the score 0-0 and then pulled off an impeccable reflex save (video above) in the penalty shootout. It brought high praise from their Real Madrid star James Rodriguez, who said, “I love him a lot, he knows that. I think he’s the best.”
If things go according to form, the stage looks set for another sumptuous replay of last year’s final, with a much stronger Argentina taking on a revitalised Chile. However, USA have belief and Colombia are due a good game. The tournament so far has been exciting and seen a surfeit of goals, unlike the Euro 2016. Now, all it needs is a good finish.
Semi-finals schedule (all times in Indian Standard Time)
United States v Argentina, Wednesday 6.30 am
Colombia v Chile, Thursday 5.30 am
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