The Good, Sad, and Ugly of Copa America 2024 Final

Argentina’s Triumph over Colombia Was Marred by Fan Fiasco at Hard Rock Stadium

A Colombian fan reacts after the 2024 Copa America final football match between Argentina and Colombia, in Medellin on July 14, 2024
JAIME SALDARRIAGA / AFP

The beautiful game had ugly moments before the Copa America 2024 Final between Argentina and Colombia on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens (FL). And the sad and ugly outweighed the result on the pitch.

In the end, Argentina won its 16th COPA championship, downing Colombia, 1-nil on a goal in extra time. This was back-to-back-to-back, two Copa titles and a World Cup win for Argentina.

The play was fierce and competitive. It got nasty but that was nothing compared to what went on outside the stadium before the match.

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The Good of Copa America 2024 Final

The teams played a physical game that was scoreless through regulation. Lauturo Martinez, who came on as a sub in the 97th minute, broke the tie in the 112th minute. For some reason, goals in overtime in soccer don’t end matches. They play until 120 minutes have expired.

Another Angle

Martinez celebrated after his score with the injured Lionel Messi.

He had scored the goal to defeat Colombia in its last loss. This defeat ended a remarkable run of 28 matches without a loss. The last defeat for Colombia came in February 2022 in a World Cup qualifier against Argentina.

The goal was the fifth of the tournament for Martinez, which made him the leading scorer for the event.

Another fine moment saw Angel Di Maria of Argentina get a curtain call as he exited the match, which was the final one of his career.

As well, Karol G singing the Colombian national anthem:

The Sad of Copa America 2024 Final

Lionel Messi was injured and had to leave the match in the second half. The Argentine great went down before the break with a right ankle injury.

He played on into the second half before suffering a non-contact injury.

His swollen ankle likely will have repercussions for the rest of his MLS season with Inter Miami.

The Ugly of Copa America 2024 Final

There can be zero excuse or explanation as to what happened before the match. Throngs of fans broke through the gates outside Hard Rock Stadium. Many didn’t have tickets and still thought it was okay to try and attend the match.

Kickoff was delayed multiple times because of the chaos outside. Police and security were overmatched. Finally, it was decided to let everyone into the venue. And then there were the people who had tickets that could never get into the match.

Insanity ruled. Police began going through sections asking to see the tickets people had for the seats they are in. If you didn’t have a ticket, you were told to leave. Not sure whether anyone did or was escorted out.

Then, there were the aisles, which didn’t exist because of the amount of people who entered.

Just a disgrace all around. Whether on the accounts of the Hard Rock Gardens brass or CONMEBOL, the organizing committee for the event.

Players from Argentina had to go outside the stadium to get members of their family during the 1 hour, 22-minute delay before the match actually kicked off.

Police traveled from section to section checking people for tickets.

And there is a call to have Miami’s Mayot to ask the public safety director to resign,

Shakira Shakes

There was another miscue. The claim was Shakira’s halftime performance necessitated the break expand from 15 to 25 minutes, setting off the Colombian coach. That proved not to be true.

The FOX announcers kept mimicking that the break would be 15 or 20 minutes when it had flatly been stated it was 25. Then, rather than going to a long Shakira performance, FOX Sports ran a full halftime studio show before Shakira took the stage for an effort that was not much longer than the 12-14 minutes a Super Bowl halftime takes.

After the delay before the game, one has to wonder why CONMEBOL didn’t just give Shakira a check and say halftime would be 15 minutes. On a dangerous night, that would have been the safe and prudent thing to do rather than extending the event.

Colombia’s head coach, Nestor Lorenzo, criticized CONMEBOL for the decision, which will extend halftime from the normal 15 minutes to 25 minutes for the concert.

“I hope you enjoy, Shakira is great,” Lorenzo said on Saturday. “For a final, when the rules change for both teams, bad pitches for both or same weather for both, then I can’t say if its bad or if it favors one side. “I can’t understand it, I wish it were like the rest. When we came out in the 16th minute we were sanctioned, but now that there is a show we can come out in the 20th-minute mark. Players can get cold, but it’s on both sides. I found out today that this is how it is, and that’s it.”

An all-around bad night unless you were playing for Argentina or cheering for the team.

For soccer odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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ArgentinaColombiaCopa America 2024Lionel Messi
July 15, 2024
217 5 minutes read

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