UEFA EURO 2024 Group Stage
20 June, 2024 - Indian Date
Veltins-Arena
MATCH TIMES
India
05:30 AM
UAE
04:00 AM
Saudi Arabia
03:00 AM
MATCH LIVE INFO
Argentina possible starting lineup: E Martinez; Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Acuna; Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, Gonzalez, Alvarez
Canada possible starting lineup: Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Buchanan, Eustaquio, Kone, Millar; David, Larin
Match Preview
Argentina will begin their defense of the Copa America title by facing Canada in the tournament opener on Thursday at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This match marks a historic moment for Canada as they make their Copa America debut, having secured their spot through a playoff victory against Trinidad and Tobago.
Argentina, the current Copa America champions, won the 2021 tournament by defeating Brazil in the final, which was a significant victory as it was their first Copa America title since 1993 and Lionel Messi's first international trophy. Following this success, Argentina also triumphed at the 2022 World Cup, defeating France in a dramatic final.
Under the guidance of coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina has maintained strong form, winning 13 of their last 14 matches, only losing once. Their recent warm-up matches saw them narrowly defeating Ecuador 1-0 and delivering a high-scoring win against Guatemala, extending their winning streak to five matches since a loss to Uruguay.
Argentina is heavily favored to top Group A, which includes Canada, Chile, and Peru. Their last encounter with Canada was a friendly match in May 2010, where Argentina, coached by Diego Maradona, won 5-0.
Canada enters the Copa America after qualifying through a playoff due to not being among the top four teams in the 2023-24 CONCACAF Nations League. They secured a 2-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago with goals from Cyle Larin and Jacob Shaffelburg. This tournament offers Canada a valuable opportunity to gain experience against high-caliber teams as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup, which they will co-host with the USA and Mexico.
Canada's new coach, Jesse Marsch, took over last month and is looking to make an impact. Although his tenure started with a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands, he saw a significant improvement as his team managed a goalless draw against France.
As the tournament begins, all eyes will be on Argentina to see if they can continue their winning momentum, while Canada will aim to make a strong impression in their Copa America debut.