Buenos Aires – Argentina captain Lionel Messi has demanded a
reaction from his side after opening the Copa America with a loss for
the first time since 1979.
"Heads up and onwards," the superstar forward said after the 2-0
defeat to Colombia late Saturday in Brazil. "There are no excuses.
"We have to take the positives and think about the next match."
Argentine media considered their captain Messi not hiding after the
opening disappointing a good signal.
In contrast to the Barcelona striker, Brazil star Neymar can no
longer influence matters on the pitch having been ruled out with
injury. However, his team started the competition with a 3-0 win
over Bolivia on Saturday without him.
"It can go very quickly," said Messi, who remains without a title for
the national team. "We still have plenty of chances to qualify. It
has just started."
Failing to escape the group, even with defeat to James Rodriguez and
company, would be a massive surprise.
The Clarin newspaper said though that the team left "many doubts with
a view to the future," after also struggling at the 2018 World Cup.
They lost in the last 16 in Russia to eventual winners France.
Argentina, and Messi, had previously lost the 2014 World Cup final to
Germany in extra-time and consecutive Copa finals on penalties to
Chile in 2015 and 2016.
Roger Martinez opened the scoring from James' assist in the 71st
minute of the match with Argentina in Salvador da Bahia. The
Albiceleste's defeat in north-eastern Brazil was then confirmed by
Duvan Zapata's late second.
While Argentina must bounce back, Brazil can be cautiously optimistic
despite labouring en route to an opening day win. All three of their
goals against Bolivia came in the second half with
Philippe Coutinho's brace after the restart settling nerves in Sao
Paulo.
"We have started well but as time progressed without us scoring the
team became a little uncertain," said Brazil coach Tite. "In the
second half our game came through."
The Selecao found themselves frustrated by the Bolivian defence in
the first half, hampered by careless passing
"At the end, with more patience, we opened up the pitch, had more
ball possession, have made moves," said captain Dani Alves.
On Tuesday Brazil face Venezuela, who started Group A with a goalless
draw against Peru. Argentina must wait until Wednesday to try to get
their Group B campaign back on track against Paraguay.