On June 29 (Vietnam time), Argentina won 2-0 against Venezuela in the quarter-finals of Copa America 2019. In this match, superstar Lionel Messi has not been able to improve his declining image since the beginning of the tournament.
"What I have shown since the beginning of the tournament is not my best. Obviously, I am not playing at the level I expected," he told the home press after the match.
In the quarter-final, Argentina opened the scoring very early (minute 10), so they had confidence and an active game. However, Messi was still lackluster as there were no direct threats against the opponent's goal.
"Many games are like this, when you can't play the way you want. Things are even more complicated when you have to attack, lead your teammates and avoid the opponent's attacks. The midfield area is also very cramped. However, the most important thing is Argentina's victory," the Barcelona star affirmed.
Finally, the captain of the Argentina team was satisfied with the performance of the whole team. He said that the "Albiceleste" played well with the strategy they outlined.
"We know Venezuela will defend tightly and counterattack quickly, giving the ball to Rondon. Argentina therefore increased the speed from the beginning of the match and was rewarded with an early goal. After that, we held the ball less.
In the second half, when the opponent attacked strongly, we played solidly, united, did not leave any gaps and then counterattacked quickly when there was an opportunity, like the situation where Martinez hit the post. That strategy has helped Argentina succeed," Messi said.
With a 2-0 win over Venezuela, Argentina advanced to the semi-finals and their opponent will be the host team Brazil. The "South American super classic" match will take place on July 3 at mineirao Stadium.
