Lionel Messi
sat down on the substitutes bench, tears in his eyes, numb, haunted, as
Chile stars celebrated wildly on the pitch. The greatest player of his
generation, he was still without a title with Argentina's national team.
And this time, he has to share some of the blame.
Messi
took Argentina's first penalty in the shoot-out, after Arturo Vidal had
missed the opening spot-kick for Chile. He fired right, Claudio Bravo
went left. But the ball sailed high, over the crossbar and into the
stands.
When
Bravo made an excellent save from Lucas Biglia's penalty, the game was
up, with Francisco Silva converting Chile's fifth to win the Copa
America Centenario, just as they did last year.
Argentina
have gone 23 years without a trophy and this was Messi's best chance of
doing it. Perhaps his last chance, as the star announced his
international retirement after the game.
They
have now lost finals three years running. In the 2014 World Cup,
against Germany, it was unfortunate. In the 2015 Copa America against
Chile, it was painful. And this? Messi must believe it is some kind of
curse.
Chile,
meanwhile, who waited 99 years to win a Copa America, lifted the trophy
in Santiago and now have done it again in New Jersey, in the special
100th year edition of the tournament. This is their golden generation
and they are delivering.
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