Follow live reaction to Argentina’s 2-0 win over Peru, while Canada also secured a spot in the knockouts with a draw with Chile
Michael Dominski
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Messi's status for quarterfinal: 'Too early to tell'
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Walter Samuel, who stood in for Argentina's suspended manager Lionel Scaloni tonight, commented on Lionel Messi's status after the match: “We are monitoring day after day. We will see how he feels, we will talk to the doctors. We have several days ahead of us before the game.
"I talked to him and he is getting better. It’s been a couple of days and it’s too early to tell. We will talk to him and the doctors.”
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Perfect Argentina
Argentina have now beaten Peru three straight times at Copa America for the first time since winning seven straight against them between 1927 and 1947.
The defending champions have also won all three of their group-stage games for the third time this century, also doing so in 2007 and 2016.
Ignominious exit for Peru
This is the first time that Peru have missed the knockout stage at Copa America since 1995, which is also the last time they failed to win a single game at the tournament.
Even worse, this is the first time ever that they have failed to score a single goal at the tournament.
Fossati on refereeing: 'It was always against us'
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After blaming the heat during Peru's last match for hurting his players' performance tonight, Peru's manager Jorge Fossati went on to also blame tonight's referee for his team's loss.
“I believe the referee was biased at some points, at some points he was giving against us fouls where we hadn’t even touched opponents," Fossati said. "The referee and VAR missed the foul on the second goal. It was revealed on the big screen. It was a clear foul by Lautaro (Martinez) that threw our player off balance. I believe it was crystal clear. In many disputed moments, it was always against us.”
Instant reaction to Argentina's win over Peru
Felipe Cardenas and Adam Crafton have dissected the key talking points from tonight's match, looking at:
- Lautaro Martinez, Copa America’s leading goalscorer
- Did Argentina miss Messi?
- How did Argentina manage without Scaloni?
- Did Manchester United’s Garnacho take his chance?
Check out their breakdown at the link below!
CONCACAF's leading light
Who woulda thunk it?
CONCACAF is usually headlined by the USMNT and Mexico, but both are in serious danger of missing out on the knockout stage at Copa America.
In their stead, Canada have bounced back from their disastrous 2022 World Cup to clinch a berth in the quarters, and Panama stand a decent chance of advancing alongside them.
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Lautaro Martinez leading Golden Boot race
Lautaro Martinez has scored in all three of Argentina's matches at Copa America, totalling four goals.
No other player at the tournament has scored more than two goals so far.
The four players with two goals are Vinicius Junior, Maxi Araujo, Darwin Nunez and Folarin Balogun.
Group A makes history
With just six total goals across the six matches, Group A has made history as the lowest-scoring group in Copa America history.
Since the advent of the modern Copa America format in 1975 when the group stage was introduced, only one group has been anywhere nearly as defensive as this one.
In 1987, Group C saw only five goals scored, but the important caveat here is that there were only three teams in that group and thus only three matches.
No group since 1975 can match Group A's average of exactly one goal per game.
Group A was not a goalfest
Do you like goals? Of course you do, you’re human.
Chile doesn’t. Peru doesn’t either. In hindsight, the secret to advancing from Group A was to try achieving the most basic aim of soccer.
- Argentina - 5 goals
- Canada - 1 goal, total
- Chile - 0, yawn
- Peru - 0, zzzzz
A big boost for Jesse Marsch’s Canada project to get a Copa America quarterfinal between now and 2026. The same luxury may not await cohosts Mexico and the United States.
Another clean sheet for Argentina
Argentina's last eight competitive wins have all been to-nil: 1-0 (four times), 2-0 (three times) and 3-0 (one time).
Looking ahead to the quarterfinals
Argentina will head to Houston for their quarterfinal against the runners-up of Group B, while Canada will travel to Arlington to face the winners of that group.
As things currently stand in Group B, Venezuela are in first place and Ecuador are in second, with Mexico still alive in third ahead of tomorrow's final matchday.
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Final Group A table
Chile and Peru both failed to score a single goal!
Argentina have yet to concede.
Chile are out
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After playing nearly a full game with a man down in Orlando, Chile has failed to advance out of the group stage.
A draw to Canada tonight meant an end for Chile’s dreams of another Copa America title. After three scoreless group stage games, at that.
FT: Canada 0-0 Chile
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Canada have held on to draw with 10-man Chile! They advance to the quarterfinals alongside Argentina, while Chile and Peru are eliminated.
Comfortable win for Argentina
Argentina top Group A comfortably. The result tonight against Peru was never in doubt.
The defending Copa America champions will travel to Houston for the quarterfinals where they will face the runners-up from Group B.
FT: Argentina 2-0 Peru
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Argentina finish a perfect group stage, winning all three games and outscoring their opponents 5-0.
Peru exit with just one point and no goals.
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Canada goal disallowed
90+3' Canada 0-0 Chile
Canada thought they had scored to clinch up their quarterfinal berth but the goal has been ruled out for offside!
Stoppage time in both games
90+2' Argentina 2-0 Peru and 90+2' Canada 0-0 Chile
Four minutes are added on in this match, while six minutes are added on in Canada-Chile.
Canada are still going through as things stand, but one Chile goal would change that. Chile are playing with 10 men though.
Peru hit the post!
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90' Argentina 2-0 Peru
Peru won't be advancing but they nearly score their first goal of the tournament as consolation, but Zanelatto's header hits the post!
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