Argentina hit full stride in their preparations for the Copa America at the USA

Argentina gears up for Copa America opener against Canada as Lionel Scaloni gets the opportunity to have a look at his squad

Led by players like Lionel Messi, Cristian Romero, and Alexis Mac Allister, the reigning World Champions Argentina have begun their preparations for the upcoming Copa America 2024 to be played in the USA. Various players from the teams’ squad seemed quite high in spirits as they trained ahead of their friendly fixture against Ecuador.

For Argentina, this year’s Copa America will initially start in about 15 days time when they take on Canada in their opening fixture of the tournament at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The La Albiceleste find themselves placed in Group A with teams like Peru, Chile, and Canada.

Also Read: Enzo Fernandez in, Dybala out as Argentina announces Copa America squad

The Blues and Whites star forward Lionel Messi reportedly didn’t travel alongside the squad to Miami. Leo remained in Florida. He was fresh off Inter Miami’s MLS fixture against St. Louis, in which the forward also netted a goal. Maybe this is a way exercised by the team management to find a balance as to how the veteran player will be managed and inculcated into the squad before the Copa America begins.

As per reports by ‘World Soccer Talk, the venue at which Inter Miami faced St. Louis will serve as the base camp for Lionel Scaloni’s squad during their friendly fixtures before the Copa America. It remains to be seen whether Lionel Messi will feature in La Albiceleste’s international friendly clash against Ecuador or not.

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Argentina termed favorites leading into the Copa America 2024

The winners of the Copa America 2021 Argentina, are again termed to be the favorites going into the tournament’s this year edition. Backed by their on-paper squad strength and current position as the World Champions, the La Albiceleste does possess the required firepower in every area of the field under Lionel Scaloni. It will be up to the 46-year-old Argentine manager to get the best football out of his side during the important stages of the prestigious tournament.

The La Albiceleste is closely followed by teams like Brazil (winner of the tournament’s 2019 edition), Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico in their chase for the Copa America 2024 title. Each team has its own strengths and possibly if analyzed closely enough, weaknesses as well leading into the tournament.

It may boil down to the team holding their nerve better under pressure situations initially going on to lift the title this time around. The 48th edition of the competition will officially be played from June 21 to July 15, 2024.

Also Read: Copa America 2024: Cristian Romero admits that Paulo Dybala’s exclusion from the national team is ‘difficult’