Argentina in the US ahead of Copa America; chaos with China Tour
The move from Argentina captain Lionel Messi to Inter Miami is expected to significantly contribute to the growth of the sport in the US, and the Argentine Football Association is actively planning to capitalize on this publicity in the US.
Sources close to The Athletic have hinted that Chicago and Maryland will be the two venues for the friendly games.
For all fans in the US who are already searching for Copa America 2024 tickets, this can be an early opportunity to witness pre-Copa America action and a chance to witness Lionel Messi in action. The exact dates and opponents are yet to be finalized, but sources from Argentine Football indicate that the opponents can be Ecuador, Guatemala, or Honduras.
The Ecuador game will likely be at Solider Field in Chicago, while the venue for the other game will be FedEx Field in Maryland.
These matches will help the defending champions fine-tune their tournament prep and engage and excite the fans to hop on the hype train.
USMNT To Play Friendly against Colombia
Ahead of the Copa America, fans with Copa America 2024 tickets will witness the US Men's National Team in action when they host Colombia. As hosts of the Copa America, there's momentum building around the US Men's team to perform, and the Colombian fixture will be an ideal opportunity.
In preparation for Copa America, Colombia is set to play two more friendlies with Spain and Romania.
While there is no official confirmation, the prospect of USMNT facing a top-tier side such as Colombo adds value to their preparation for the tournament. The game should help gauge their performance against high-level opponents, considering that Uruguay drew 2-2 in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier.
The US side is also discussing scheduling a potential match ahead of the Copa America with the Canadian governing body. This potential matchup adds another layer to the USMNT's preparation, allowing them to analyze a team's strategies they may encounter in the tournament's later stages.
Are Argentina Putting Profit Ahead of Form?
The defending champion, Argentina, is set to tour China for two international friendlies, sparking debate in the football community about Argentina's chasing after monetary gain, compromising their strategic preparation.
The reported matches, set to happen in Beijing and Hangzhou, are part of a deal focusing on financial gains.
There are several concerns regarding the tour from the fans with Copa America 2024 tickets, as the hugely hyped tournament is just around the corner.
The extensive travel schedule will mean that the team will travel 20,000 km in a week, raising concerns about a physical toll on the players, injury risk, and limited training time.
The tour will happen during the international break, and the travel time will significantly reduce the time available for training. The tour schedule means the team will train together only after the season ends.
This money-driven decision is seen as a money-spinning exercise by the Argentine Football Association, where the national body is prioritizing financial gains, considering the financial gains and popularity gains from the FIFA World Cup 202.
Earlier, the anticipation was to play friendly games against European sides in March, but this was quickly changed to China as their opponent. Teams in Europe would have provided a better competition for the team to prepare better for the Copa America 2024.
At a time when Argentina is aiming to defend their Copa America title in the United States, a potential error in the tour to China can harm the entire preparation. The decision to tour China has sparked criticism from those with Copa America 2024 tickets, with them directed at Association President Chiqui Tapia, and there are concerns about its potential impact on Coach Lionel Scaloni, who has been reportedly frustrated with certain decisions.
In contrast, Brazil has chosen the preferred path to tour Europe and face more formidable opponents. The site is expected to play against England and Spain at the Wembley.
This approach will help the side better prepare to play in high-intensity games, with both sides heavily invested in a more athletic style of play.
While the decision to travel to China brings in revenue, it also intensifies the scrutiny and the skepticism.
If Argentina does not get through to win the Copa America or fails even to make the finals, the China tour could be a decisive factor, and there will be several questions raised at President Tapia. The impact will also scale down to Scaloni's tenure as head coach.
The controversy also brings to light the balance that international football bodies need to maintain in terms of maximizing profit and maintaining integrity.
Neymar out of Copa America
November 2022 was a heartbreak for Brazil fans - their superstar player Neymar was ruled out for the rest of the year, owing to injury. Now the troubles have worsened - Neymar will not make it to the Brazil side in the Copa America 2024.
The country's record goalscorer will not participate in the team as Neymar's doctors have confirmed that he will need more time off.
The Al-Hilal star was injured during the international break and was forced to go for surgery involving his torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus on his left knee.
This was heartbreaking news, with the Brazilian team now having to regroup and bring out a new strategy for Copa America with Neymar's recovery timeline extended to at least ten months.
Additionally, Neymar will also miss the FIFA World Cup qualifiers as the doctors advise that he must be completely fit to get back to the field. In the absence of the superstar, it will be up to youngsters Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo to step up in the scoring duties.
Vinicius has been impressive for Madrid throughout the season and will expect to take his form from the Real Madrid whites to the Brazillian yellows.
The Brazil front line will most likely be the Real Madrid duo and it will be their place to shine.
It was an eventful 2023 for Neymar, with a departure from PSG to Al-Hilal. But the injury during the injury break completely twisted the tale.