‘It will take us a while to accept and process the defeat… We have to recover quickly’: Lionel Messi stunned by opening Copa America defeat but urges team-mates to respond quickly
Lionel Messi has revealed it will ‘take us a while to accept’ after Argentina were stunned by Colombia in their opening Copa America match.
Goals from Roger Martinez and Duvan Zapata saw Colombia take control of Group B and leave one of the tournament favourites in Argentina battling to avoid an embarrassing early exit.
And Messi, the talisman for the side, has urged his team-mates to ‘recover quickly’ as they face a must-win game against Paraguay next.
Lionel Messi wants Argentina to ‘recover quickly’ as they face an early Copa America exit
‘It will take us a while to accept and process the defeat,’ Messi said in defeat.
‘We have to look at the mistakes we made, and find the positives. We have to recover quickly and there is still a chance to qualify.’
Lionel Scaloni’s will still be expected to progress with games against Paraguay and Colombia to come but their tournament started in the worst possible fashion.
Argentina have finished runners-up in the last two Copa America tournaments and Messi will be keen to end his wait for a major international honour having seen rival Cristiano Ronaldo lift the UEFA Nations League earlier this month.
The national team have won the tournament 14 times but have not lifted it since 1993.
More to follow.