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- Messi Celebrates Reaching the Final and Criticizes Copa America Conditions
Messi Celebrates Reaching the Final and Criticizes Copa America Conditions
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi responded to questions on his international future after firing his side into another Copa America final.
Lionel Messi celebrated on Tuesday after the match against Canada that secured Argentina's place in the Copa America final in the United States, noting how the Albiceleste reached the final "on very poor pitches and against very tough teams."
"It's great that Argentina can play another final. It was a difficult tournament, on very poor pitches and against very tough teams, in very challenging temperatures, but we managed to reach another final."
The Argentine captain reiterated, "It's not easy to be in another final and have the chance to be champions again. We need to take advantage of this opportunity. It's not easy to achieve this, and we've done it again."
He also expressed some nostalgia. "It's not easy to do what we've done with this group. For me, this is the last Copa America, we played the last World Cup, and 'Fide', 'Ota', and I are playing our last battles and enjoying it to the fullest... Hopefully, we can give 'Fideo' another title in his last final."
In his seventh Copa America, Messi said he felt "proud" of his team and remembered those with whom he reached finals but didn't win.
"I feel a lot of happiness and pride. What this group has done is incredible; they never get tired of competing. It's something impressive. It's a great achievement to play in four finals in a row, and we also value the finals I played in and couldn't win with the previous generation. This is for them too... I'm enjoying it more than ever; this is one of the few things we have left, and I hope people enjoy it as well."