Argentina vs. Canada lineups, starting 11, team news: Lionel Messi with point to prove in Copa America 2024 semifinal

07-09-2024
8 min read
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Canada will get their shot at redemption against Lionel Messi and Argentina in the Copa America semifinals on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.

The upstart CanMNT side punched their ticket to the semis on Friday with a dramatic win over Venezuela on penalties after a 1-1 draw, similar to the way Argentina progressed through their quarterfinal tie against Ecuador.

The Albiceleste, who are the reigning Copa America and World Cup champions, needed a shootout to defeat Ecuador after their late goal during second-half injury time. Lionel Scaloni's side are seeking to lift a third straight major international title and 16th Copa America trophy.

Canada, meanwhile, are making their first-ever appearance in the competition and reaching the semis is the latest major step in the right direction for a country on the rise.

MORE: Copa America 2024 schedule and results, updated LIVE Who will win Copa America 2024? Latest odds and predictions | FIFA Rankings for all Copa America 2024 teams 

Argentina vs. Canada lineups, starting 11, team news

Lionel Messi was sensational against Canada to open the tournament, then decent against Chile before missing the group game against Peru through injury. He was not at his best against Ecuador and was the only Argentine player to miss his penalty during the deciding shootout, but we will surely see a better version of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner in this rematch against Canada as he takes a true No. 10 role at the top of a 4-4-2 diamond formation.

With the captain struggling for goals and fitness, Inter Milan hitman Lautaro Martínez has provided the spark up front and leads the Golden Boot race with four goals, but he must settle for a spot on the bench. Manchester City's dynamic and versatile attacker, Julian Alvarez, scored against Canada in the tournament opener, and the 24-year-old has been deployed up front again in the tactical switch.

At the back, Lisandro Martinez will continue to get the call over Nicolas Otamendi following his goal scoring heroics last time out, with the Manchester United man set to line up alongside Cristian Romero. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was yet again the hero, saving two penalties and Messi's blushes in the penalty shootout to book his side's place in the semifinals.

Argentina starting XI (4-3-3, right to left): E. Martinez (GK) — Montiel, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico — E. Fernandez, Mac Allister, De Paul — Messi, Alvarez, Di Maria.

Injured: Acuna (doubt).
Suspended: None.

Canada will be without Inter Milan's Tajon Buchanan. The winger broke his tibia in training and will miss the rest of the tournament (and the next four to six months) as he recovers from the devastating injury. Malmo defender Derek Cornelius picked up his second yellow card of the Copa America in the quarterfinal against Venezuela but is available as accumulated bookings are reset in the semifinals.

Head coach Jesse Marsch has selected a different starting XI for every Copa America fixture so far, but one thing is for certain: the manager will ask his front players to be precise and clinical in transitional moments to cause the most damage.

Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies is one of the standout names in the side, and the left-back will operate in a back four alongside Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, and Alistair Johnston.

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Porto's Stephen Eustaquio lines up in the middle of the park alongside Marseille's Ismael Kone, who re-enters the starting lineup on Tuesday after sitting out their final group match and only coming off the bench last time out.

Lille marksman Jonathan David will provide one of his country's main goal threats, having scored their only goal in the opening phase of this competition, his 27th career international goal. That puts him two behind center-forward Cyle Larin in Canada's career scoring list all-time. Left winger Jacob Shaffelburg scored the opener against Venezuela, and that should prove enough to retain his starting place in the attack.

Canada starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): Crepeau (GK) — Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies — Laryea, Kone, Eustaquio, Shaffelburg — Larin, David.

Injured: Buchanan.
Suspended: None.

Argentina vs. Canada live stream, TV channel

  TV channel Streaming
USA FS1, Univision, TUDN Fubo, Fox Sports app/website, ViX, Univision Now, TUDN app/website
Canada CTV Two, TSN 1, 3, 4, RDS TSN+, RDS App, CTV App
UK Premier Sports 1 Premier Sports Player
Australia Optus Sport
India

USA: Argentina vs. Canada from MetLife Stadium will be televised in the United States on FS1, with a Spanish-language broadcast via Univision and TUDN. All three channels are available to stream on Fubo, with the latter offering a FREE seven-day trial.

Spanish-language coverage is also available on streaming platform ViX.

UK: This match will be shown in the UK on Premier Sport Player's platforms.

Canada: All Copa America matches can be seen in Canada on TSN's respective TV channel and live streaming services. RDS provides French-language coverage.

Australia: Australia's sole broadcaster for the Copa America is Optus Sport. 

India: Unfortunately, there has been no official confirmation of TV and live stream broadcasts of Copa America in India. Reports had suggested that FanCode and Sony were ready to take up broadcast rights for the tournament but, as yet, that has not been made official. So at the moment, there is no official platform in India on which viewers can stream or any channel on which the match will be broadcast. 

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