It was a chaotic affair, the Copa América final in Miami. The match started almost an hour and a half later than scheduled due to disturbances at the Hard Rock Stadium. Argentina defeated Colombia in that final, but the concerns of coach Lionel Scaloni were not yet gone afterward.
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At the press conference, he was still affected. "Before the match, the players were in the dark for an hour about where their families were, we were aware that something was wrong. We also saw the videos. In that context, we had to take the field, both us and the Colombian players; it was the same for them. It's hard to explain or understand," said Scaloni.
The chaos before the match added significant stress to the players and their families. The mother of Alexis Mac Allister shared her testimony with Argentina's TyC Sports: her son had to leave the locker room to guide his family inside. "This was inhumane. He was worried about us the entire time and stayed by the entrance until we could get in. Then we hugged, and he went to play his match."
A spokesperson for the stadium gave a statement to the local newspaper Miami Herald: "There were several attempts to break into the stadium in the afternoon and evening, posing significant risks to themselves and others. Entrances were strategically opened and closed to safely bring guests inside, but people continued to behave unlawfully: fighting with officers, breaking down walls, and barricades." Eventually, the gates were briefly opened for everyone without checking tickets.
Despite the disturbances, the match went on, culminating in a dramatic victory for Argentina. A memorable moment after the final was a hug between the two Lionels: Scaloni and Messi. The star player had to leave the match with an ankle injury and was crying hard on the bench. After the match, some relief had to come: the coach and Messi embraced on the field for an extraordinarily long time, according to Argentine media, more than a minute.
Scaloni praised Messi's dedication and resilience: "Lionel has something that everyone should have. He never wants to leave the field, even when his ankle hurts so much. He is the best footballer in the world and just doesn’t want to leave his teammates behind; I know that better than anyone. Although I don't want to talk about him alone, that would be wrong. This group has brought us a lot of joy," Scaloni said.
The emotional scenes on the field were a testament to the bond and spirit of the team, highlighting the sacrifices and challenges they overcame to achieve victory. The Copa América final was not just a match; it was a reflection of the team's unity and determination amidst adversity.
