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Liverpool v Borussia Monchengladbach – A Unique European Rivalry That Lasted Almost A Decade
When people talk about European club football in the 70’s they will often talk about Bayern Munich and Ajax but two clubs were to dominate both domestically and in Europe and met 5 times during the decade. It was a rivalry which lasted almost a decade, as these two clubs found themselves at the pinnacle of European football meeting many times towards the final stages of the continent’s most prestigious club tournaments. But it is a rivalry which forged friendships lasting to this day.
Liverpool v Borussia Monchengladbach
‘Gladbach’ was formed in 1900 but didn’t enter the Bundesliga until 1965 when they won promotion from West Germany’s second tier, the Regionaliga West. Interestingly, the other team who won promotion that season was none other than Bayern Munich. These two would go onto dominate West German football for the next 15 years. Bayern won their first title in 1969 but then Borussia took over and won the next two in 1970 and 1971 with Bayern finishing 2nd each time. During the 70’s the club earned the nickname ‘Die Fohlen, meaning The Foals, on account of having a young team with a fast aggressive style of play. Their first European Cup campaign in 1971 saw them knocked out at the Second Round stage by Everton. When they finished 3rd in 1972 they qualified for the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) for the following season. Thus began their acquaintance with Liverpool.
At that time, Liverpool were managed by Bill Shankly. Shankly took over at Anfield in 1959 when the club was languishing mid-table in the Second Division (now The Championship). Liverpool finished 3rd that season and the next but in 1962 Shankly lead the club to the Second Division title. Within two years they were English League Champions. 1965 brought their first European campaign where they were controversially knocked out at the Semi-Final stage by Inter. After winning that FA Cup that season they entered the European Cup-Winners’ Cup in 1966 where they were beaten in the Final by Borussia Dortmund.
They won the League again in 1966, and their subsequent European Cup challenge in 1967 was ended by a young Cruyff-inspired Ajax side. Liverpool then had three successive season competing in the Inter-City Fairs Cup (the forerunner to the UEFA Cup) where they failed to get past the Third Round until 1971 when they were beaten in the Semi-Finals by Leeds United. In 1971 the Inter-City Fairs Cup became the UEFA Cup. Liverpool missed the inaugural season, but qualified for the 1972-73 season where they would come up against Borussia Monchengladbach to begin a remarkable rivalry.
UEFA Cup 1972-73
On their way to the Final, Liverpool had to beat two East German sides, Dynamo Berlin and Dynamo Dresden conceding just 4 goals in their 10 matches. Two of those goals came in their Semi-Final win over the holders, Tottenham.
Borussia beat two West German clubs, Cologne and Kaiserslautern, on the way. They’d scored 34 in 10 games and were in good form. Their league form saw them finish a disappointing 5th, despite being 2nd top scorers with Jupp Heynckes finishing 2nd in the scoring charts with 28 goals. Heynckes was to become an important player in the club success during the decade having scored 19 goals in each of the previous two seasons.
10th May 1973
UEFA CUP FINAL, 1st leg
LIVERPOOL (2) 3 (Keegan 21, 32, Lloyd 60)
Clemence; Lawler, Lloyd, Hughes, Lindsay; Cormack, Smith, Callaghan; Toshack, Keegan, Heighway (Hall)
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (0) 0
Kleff; Michallik, Netzer, Bonhof, Vogts; Wimmer, Danner, Kulik; Jensen, Rupp (Simonsen), Heynckes
The game was scheduled for 9th May but heavy rain in Liverpool the week before and made the conditions unplayable. The referee decided to let the game go ahead but abandoned it after just 27 minutes to try again 24 hours later. This delay allowed Shankly to make a vital decision. He had noticed how Borussia defender, Gunter Netzer struggled in the air so he altered his team to replace Brian Hall with John Toshack. This would prove a masterstroke and one which played a vital part in the destination of the trophy. 21 minutes into the replayed 1st leg saw Toshack rise above Netzer to meet Chris Lawler’s cross and head the ball to Kevin Keegan who himself headed the ball past Kleff.
Four minutes later and under pressure from Toshack, Rainer Bonhof handled the ball in the area and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Keegan stepped up but his penalty was poor and easily saved by the German keeper. 33 minutes in and Emlyn Hughes headed the ball into the box where Toshack was again dominant and his header again found Keegan who volleyed Liverpool into a 2-goal lead. On the hour, Keegan’s corner was met by Larry Lloyd and Liverpool were 3 goals to the good. 5 minutes later the visitors was awarded a rather dubious penalty when Steve Heighway was adjudged to have brought down Henning Jensen. Heynckes stepped up but Clemence guessed right and the shot was saved. Advantage Liverpool
23rd May 1973
UEFA CUP FINAL, 2nd leg
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (2) 2 (Heynckes 29, 40)
Kleff; Surau, Netzer, Bonhof, Vogts; Wimmer, Danner, Kulik; Jensen, Rupp, Heynckes
LIVERPOOL (0) 0
Clemence; Lawler, Lloyd, Hughes, Lindsay; Cormack, Smith, Callaghan; Toshack, Keegan, Heighway (Boersma)
Rain again affected the match with the pitch being very slippery. Borussia needed to come at Liverpool who set their stall out to defend. Netzer was far more at home and influential in this game. It took the home side 30 minutes to get the breakthrough as Rupp, ran clear on the right of the area, drew Clemence towards him and passed to his right where Heynckes had the easy task of passing into the net. 10 minutes later, Bonhof’s pass from the back found Rupp in the area. He twisted and turned, was forced back where his layoff found Heynckes and he curled the ball perfectly around Tommy Smith and Ray Clemence and now the home side were 2-up at the break.
The second half was much more comfortable for Liverpool as Borussia were unable to match the intensity of their first half play despite needing just 1 goal to force extra-time. The game ended 2-0 to Borussia but Liverpool had won 3-2 on aggregate to become the first English team to win a European trophy and League Championship in the same season.
Liverpool went out in the Second Round of the European Cup in 1973-74 whilst Borussia had qualified for the Cup-Winners’ Cup, where they reached the Semi-Finals. The Anglo-German domination of European football continued as Bayern Munich won the European Cup, Tottenham were beaten finalists in the UEFA Cup, and even East German side, Magdeburg, won the Cup-Winners’ Cup.
During the 1973-74 season, Borussia finished 2nd to Bayern in the Bundesliga where Heynckes and Muller again topped the scoring charts with 30 goals each, to then qualify for the UEFA Cup again. Liverpool also finished 2nd in the First Division, won by Leeds United, but their FA Cup win over Newcastle meant they would enter the Cup-Winners’ Cup.
1974-75 saw Borussia do what Liverpool had done in 1972-73 when they won the League title at the same time as winning the UEFA Cup. Heynckes was again the top scorer with 27 goals. In the UEFA Cup Final they beat FC Twente, 5-1 after a 0-0 draw with Heynckes scoring a hat-trick. The other 2 goals were scored by Alan Simonsen who was rapidly becoming a more and more important player for the club. In the Twente side that day were two Dutchman who would later become favourites in English football, Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren.
Liverpool finished 2nd to Derby County in the League and went out in the Second Round of the Cup-Winners’ Cup to eventual runners-up, Ferencvaros.
1975-76 saw Liverpool win their first League title under Bob Paisley, whilst also winning the UEFA Cup against Bruges. Borussia, now managed by former Bayern boss Udo Lattek, won their 2nd successive Bundesliga and reached the Quarter-Finals of the European Cup, again won by Bayern Munich.
European Cup 1976-77
1976-77 and round three of this rivalry. Liverpool won their 2nd successive League title and were on a unique treble only to lose in the FA Cup Final to Manchester United. Four days later they were in their first European Cup Final. They’d beaten Crusaders, Trabzonspor and a famous win over St. Etienne and then FC Zurich on their way to the Final in Rome.
Borussia won their 3rd successive Bundesliga whilst at the same time reaching the Final of the European Cup. They beat Austria Vienna, Torino, Bruges and Dinamo Kiev to get there.
25th May 1977
EUROPEAN CUP FINAL
LIVERPOOL (1) 3 (McDermott 28, Smith 64, Neal 82(pen))
Clemence; Neal, Smith, Hughes, Jones; Case, McDermott, Callaghan, Kennedy; Keegan, Heighway
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (0) 1 (Simonsen)
Kneig; Vogts, Wittkamp, Kilnkhammer Stielike; Bonhof, Wohlers (Hannes), Schafer, Wimmer (Kulik); Simonsen, Heynckes
Borussia manager, Udo Lattek, had a masterplan to combat the threat from Kevin Keegan. He got captain, Berti Vogts, to man-mark him. Vogts stuck close to Keegan all game, although KK was to have the final incisive word. The Germans seemed to settle first and Stielike had a wild shot over the bar. Liverpool eventually created some pressure and Kennedy forced Kneib to tip the ball over the bar. Borussia defended the resulting corner and gradually made progress upfield where Bonhof shot from 30 yards came back off the post. Liverpool started to gain some sort of control on the match, snuffing out many Germans attacks in midfield. One such attack saw Callaghan win the ball in midfield and find Heighway on the right.
As he moved inside, Keegan stayed on the far side of the area forcing Vogts to stick with him. A gap opened up in the middle and Terry McDermott exploited it beautifully with a trademark late run from midfield. Heighway slotted the ball through to him and McDermott hit it first time past Kneib. Liverpool managed to keep control of the rest of the half and went in 1-0 up. In the second half the Germans were soon into their stride and looking dangerous. A misplaced pass from Jimmy Case fell to Allan Simonsen who took the ball into the area and fired a left foot shot past Clemence’s left hand for the equaliser.
Within minutes Simonsen was involved again as he found some space in the area to meet Schafer’s right-wing cross, but his header went wide. The battle between Keegan and Vogts was really starting to take centre-stage with the Liverpool man gradually getting the better of his marker. Then Borussia had another chance as Simonsen crossed from the right to find Stielike ahead of the defence but Clemence was decisive in coming out and blocking the shot.
Just after the hour Liverpool had a corner on the left. Heighway took it right footed and Tommy Smith, met it perfectly and his header hit the back of the net and Liverpool were back in front. Case then had a 25 yard free-kick saved by Kneib. Into the final 10 minutes and Keegan, playing his final game for Liverpool, picked up the ball in midfield and immediately ran at Vogts and then past him. As he got into the area he forced the German captain to bring him down and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Up stepped Phil Neal. His favourite side was to the keeper’s left, but inexplicably he changed his mind and put it to the right as the keeper went the other way. Liverpool had won their first European Cup.
European Cup 1977-78
1977-78 and both clubs were back in the European Cup and both reached the Semi-Finals where they were to meet again. At the time of the 1st leg, Liverpool were 10pts behind leaders, Nottingham Forest and back in 9th. Borussia were about to be pipped to a 4th successive Bundesliga by Cologne, on goal difference.
29th March 1978
EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL, 1st leg
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (1) 2 (Hannes 28, Bonhof 90)
Kleff; Vogts, Wohlers, Nielsen, Hannes; Del’Haye, Wimmer, Bonhof, Kulik; Heynckes, Lienen (Danner)
LIVERPOOL (0) 1 (Johnson 89)
Clemence; Neal, Thompson, Hughes, Smith; Case, McDermott (Johnson), Callaghan, Kennedy; Dalglish, Heighway (Souness)
Early in the first half, Emlyn Hughes made a good run forward and his shot was parried by Kleff, only for McDermott to put his header over. Heynckes then bought a good save out of Clemence. Then good work down the right by Del’Haye and his cross was met by Heynckes but this time his header went over. As the game approached the half-hour mark, the home side had a corner which was swung in from the left. Del’Haye, at the far post, knocked the ball back for Hannes to fire in from the 6 yards. Borussia lead at the break and then early in the second half, Heynckes again went close as his header hit the outside of the post. Hannes long range shot then went narrowly past the post as the Germans flooded forward. Then Liverpool pushed forward searching for an equaliser and Dalglish’s cross from the left was headed in by 2nd half-substitute, David Johnson. It was a precious away goal with only a minute to go. Almost immediately, Borussia had a free-kick 25 yards out and Rainer Bonhof thundered in into the roof of the net and the home side at least had a lead to take to Anfield.
12th April 1978
EUROPEAN CUP SEMI-FINAL, 2nd leg
LIVERPOOL (2) 3 (Kennedy 6, Dalglish 35, Case 56)
Clemence; Neal, Thompson, Hughes, Smith; Case, McDermott, Souness, Kennedy; Dalglish, Heighway
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH (0) 0
Kleff; Vogts, Wohlers (Schafer), Nielsen, Hannes; Del’Haye, Wimmer (Lienen), Bonhof, Kulik; Heynckes, Lienen (Danner)
Liverpool, with an away goal, came at the Germans from the start and Souness found Dalglish on the right. He got to the bye-line and crossed to the far post where Ray Kennedy arrived unmarked and headed home. 35 minutes in and Emlyn Hughes joined the attack wide on the left, halfway into the Germans half. He crossed into the box where Kennedy headed back for Dalglish to volley the ball past Kleff and Liverpool were now 2-up and the Germans now needed to score twice. 10 minutes into the second half and Liverpool were all over Borussia. Heighway crossed from the left but Kulik headed away, only to find Kennedy in midfield. He controlled the ball on his chest and played it right to Jimmy Case. Case turned inside Klinkhammer and then fired a left foot shot past Kleff. Liverpool were now clear of their rivals and found it easy to see out the game to reach their second successive European Cup Final. Liverpool went onto retain their trophy with a 1-0 win over Bruges at Wembley.
That was the last time these two met in a competitive match but there was a hint of irony with what happened the following season. Back in those days only the Champions qualified for the European Cup but as holders, Liverpool automatically qualified. As Nottingham Forest had won the League in 1978, England had two clubs in the draw for the First Round. With no seedings, the two clubs were drawn against each other with Forest winning over 2 legs. If todays rules were in place this would mean Liverpool would’ve been entered into the UEFA Cup. Who won the UEFA Cup that season? Yes, you’ve guessed it, Borussia Monchengladbach. So the two could well have met in the final again to round off a decade of dominance for the two.
But this rivalry is far from fierce. When Borussia were considering opponents for their 110th anniversary celebrations they had no hesitation in calling Anfield. Sets of fans from both clubs take it in turns to make the journey to their respective opposing clubs to watch a game. In Borussia Park there is a corporate hospitality lounge called the ‘Liverpool FC Suite’. When Liverpool fans visit Germany they are invited onto the pitch before kick-off to unveil specially commissioned friendship flags. In 1991 Borussia donated 21,000 German Marks (approximately £7,000) to the Hillsborough Disaster Fund.
It is a friendship between clubs from different countries probably unrivalled throughout football, forged for over 30 years.
Published in permission with Pete Spencer
Argentina will be aiming for a record-breaking 16th Copa America title when they take on Colombia
The Copa America 2024 is set for an electrifying conclusion as defending champions Argentina face off against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Sunday. This highly anticipated final marks the first-ever Copa America final meeting between these two footballing powerhouses. Argentina aim to secure a record-breaking 16th title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
Argentina’s road to the final has been marked by grit and determination. They navigated a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Ecuador in the quarter-finals before securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Canada in the semi-finals. Julian Alvarez opened the scoring, followed by a historic goal from Lionel Messi, who now stands as the second-highest male goalscorer in international football with 109 goals.
Argentina’s unbeaten streak now extends to 10 matches, and they remain unbeaten in major tournament knockout games on American soil since the 1994 World Cup. It is no understatement that they go into the clash as favourites.
Colombia are no pushovers, however. They have been in exceptional form. Since their 1-0 loss to Argentina in World Cup qualifying in February 2022, they have embarked on a record-breaking unbeaten run of 28 matches.
Jefferson Lerma’s header gave Colombia the lead before Daniel Munoz’s red card put them at a numerical disadvantage against Uruguay. Despite this setback, Colombia’s resilience shone through as they held on to secure their place in the final. The victory over Uruguay was marred by a brawl involving Uruguayan players and Colombian supporters, but Colombia’s focus remained unwavering. This final represents a chance for Colombia to end a long wait since their first Copa America triumph in 2001.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
For the final, Argentina face no injury or suspension issues. Head coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to maintain an unchanged lineup. The defence will feature a solid back four with Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, and Nicolas Tagliafico, with Emiliano Martinez as the goalkeeper.
In the midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul are anticipated to keep their places, even though Giovani Lo Celso and Exequiel Palacios are pushing for a start. Angel Di Maria is poised for his international farewell on the right wing. Alexis Mac Allister, who has been impressive on the international stage, will play a crucial role, linking up with Messi from the midfield.
Lionel Messi, who overcame a leg injury to play the full match against Canada, will lead the attack alongside Julian Alvarez. Lautaro Martinez, the tournament’s top scorer, is expected to begin on the bench and should be brought on in the second half.
Predicted Playing XI (4-4-2): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lis. Martinez, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, E. Fernandez, De Paul, Di Maria; Messi, Alvarez
Colombia
With Daniel Munoz suspended, Santiago Arias is set to start at right-back, joining Davinson Sanchez, Carlos Cuesta, and Johan Mojica in a solid four-man backline. Camilo Vargas will likely be the goalkeeper.
In midfield, Jefferson Lerma and Richard Ríos are expected to form the double pivot, providing protection for the defence and allowing the attacking players to push forward.
Captain James Rodriguez, who has recorded a tournament-high six assists, will continue in the number 10 role. He will be supported by Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Fluminense’s Jhon Arias on the flanks.
Jhon Cordoba, who has contributed with two goals and two assists, is expected to lead the attack, with Jhon Duran and Rafael Santos Borre available as options.
Predicted Playing XI (4-2-3-1): Vargas; Santiago Arias, Sanchez, Cuesta, Mojica; Rios, Lerma; Jhon Arias, Rodriguez, Diaz; Cordoba
Key Stats
- Victory will see Argentina win their 16th Copa America title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s illustrious history.
- Colombia are unbeaten in their last 28 international games.
- Argentina have won 26 of their 43 meetings against Colombia in all competitions.
- A win for Colombia will see them win just their second Copa America title, their first since 2001.
Match Deciding Duel
Enzo Fernandez (Argentina) vs James Rodriguez (Colombia)
Argentina have been solid in defence and penetrating their backline has proven to be a challenge for most sides in the competition. Colombia have a rather dynamic attack but will depend on the veteran James Rodriguez to act as the playmaker.
With the likes of Luis Diaz able to make the most of opportunities, the onus will be on Enzo Fernandez to ensure Rodriguez does not have space to manoeuvre in. The duel between the two players could certainly set the tone for which way the cookie crumbles on the night.
Prediction
Argentina 2-1 Colombia
The clash is likely to be an entertaining one with the midfield battle expected to set the tone for the result. Argentina. however, have more strength in depth and the ability to bring a player of Lautaro Martinez’s calibre off the bench in the second half is akin to a cheat code. The Inter Milan star is expected to lead the defending champions to a close 2-1 win on the night.
Spain and England will face off for continental supremacy in the Euro 2024 final
As Euro 2024 reaches its climax, the football world braces for a thrilling final between Spain and England at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. This highly anticipated match will determine the champions of Europe, with Spain looking to add to their illustrious history and England aiming to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the first time.
Spain, guided by Luis de la Fuente, entered the tournament somewhat under the radar but quickly established themselves as a formidable contender. They navigated the so-called ‘Group of Death’ with ease, securing nine points from three matches against Croatia, Italy, and Albania. Impressively, they emerged from the group stage without conceding a goal to an opposition player.
In the knockout stages, Spain demonstrated their resilience and quality. A stunning 4-1 comeback against Georgia in the last-16 and a tense extra-time victory over hosts Germany in the quarter-finals showcased their grit and talent. The semi-final against France was another test of their mettle, with young star Lamine Yamal lighting up the Allianz Arena and Dani Olmo sealing the win.
Spain’s journey to the final has not been without challenges, but their blend of experience and youthful exuberance has seen them through. They now stand on the brink of history, aiming to become the first European men’s team to win four major tournaments consecutively.
England’s Euro 2024 campaign has been a rollercoaster. Gareth Southgate’s men had a mixed group stage, winning only once against Serbia and drawing against Denmark and Slovenia. Their knockout phase has been a tale of resilience and drama, coming from behind in both the last-16 and quarter-finals.
A lacklustre win over Slovakia and a penalty shootout victory against Switzerland set the stage for a semi-final clash with the Netherlands. Despite early setbacks, including a goal from Dutch prodigy Xavi Simons, England produced their best performance of the tournament. A late winner from Ollie Watkins, following a perfect penalty from Harry Kane, propelled them to their second consecutive Euro final.
Southgate’s squad has shown incredible determination and character, setting new records along the way. Kane’s scoring feats and the team’s ability to perform under pressure have been pivotal to their success.
We take a look at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News and Predicted XI
Spain
Spain’s bad-tempered quarter-final against Germany saw Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand fall foul of the referee, leading to their suspensions for the semi-final. Both players are now back at De la Fuente’s disposal, bringing much-needed fresh legs to the Roja XI. Carvajal will replace Jesus Navas, while Le Normand should push Nacho to the bench.
Spain are expected to maintain a 4-3-3 formation with Unai Simon in goal. Daniel Carvajal and Marc Cucurella should hold the flanks in defence, while Robin Le Normand and Aymeric Laporte should form the centre-back pairing. Rodri should form the midfield pivot, with Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz pushing forward.
Skipper Alvaro Morata should lead the line with the electric duo of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams providing support. Morata was initially a concern given his freak injury after the win against France. Thankfully for Spain, he trained normally and should lead them out.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Simon; Carvajal, Le Normand, Laporte, Cucurella; Ruiz, Rodri, Olmo; Yamal, Morata, Williams
England
England arrive in Berlin with a fully fit squad, including Luke Shaw, who has recovered from injury. Shaw’s performance against Switzerland and his effective stint in the semi-final suggests he may start, replacing Kieran Trippier at left-back.
Southgate is likely to stick with his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. Jordan Pickford will guard the goal, with a back three of John Stones, Harry Maguire, and Marc Guehi.
Shaw and Kyle Walker will operate as wing-backs, while Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham form the midfield pivot. Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka will support captain Harry Kane in attack. Southgate has enough game-changers on the bench and it remains to be seen if he will have the nerve to make bold calls or play the long game and roll the dice.
Predicted Playing XI (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Key Stats
- A victory on the night will see Spain secure their fourth title, making them the most successful side in the competition’s history.
- A win for England will see them triumph in the European Championships for the first time in their history.
- Spain and England have faced off 27 times in all competitions. La Roja have won 10 games while England have won 14. Three games ended in a draw.
- England have never lost to Spain in a UEFA European Championship clash before.
Match Deciding Duel
Lamine Yamal (Spain) vs Luke Shaw (Spain)
Lamal has been a critical difference-maker for Spain in this year’s tournament and will hope to end it on a high. Up against the recently returned Luke Shaw, he will aim to run rings against the English veteran.
Shaw’s ability to get caught out could provide Yamal the space he needs to run into and put the English backline into disarray. This should also subsequently free up Dani Olmo to make his trademarks into the box.
Prediction
Spain 1-1 England (Spain to Win on Penalties)
England will be keen to end their trophy drought and also go one better than last time around. While they have a strong squad with plenty of depth, Southgate’s inability to take calculated risks should play right into Spain’s hands. It remains unlikely that the trophy will go ‘home’ anytime soon.
Argentina and Canada will face off in the first semifinal of Copa America 2024, a repeat of the competition opener from Group A
Canada have a golden opportunity to make history as they face defending champions Argentina in the first semi-final of Copa America 2024 at MetLife Stadium on Tuesday.
In a rematch of their tournament opener, Canada can become the second CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America final. Both sides advanced to the semi-finals via penalty shootouts, with Argentina defeating Ecuador and Canada overcoming Venezuela after 1-1 draws in regular time respectively.
Argentina’s path to the semi-finals has been fortified by their exceptional defence and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. The victory over Ecuador secures their fifth consecutive appearance in the Copa America semi-finals. Historically, Argentina have been strong at this stage, progressing in seven of their last eight attempts, with the only setback being against Brazil in 2019.
A triumph on Tuesday would mark the first time Argentina reached the Copa America final as defending champions since 1959. Scaloni’s team has been defensively sound, conceding just once throughout the tournament. The Albiceleste are unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions, allowing only three goals during this period.
On the other hand, Canada has shown remarkable resilience since their initial loss to Argentina. Jesse Marsch’s squad has conceded just once in their last three games. They are the third CONCACAF team to reach the Copa America semi-finals in their debut appearance, following Honduras and Mexico. They are also the first from the region to advance this far since the USA in 2016.
This semi-final marks Canada’s fifth appearance in the final four of a continental tournament this century. They have progressed beyond this stage twice, in the 2023 Nations League and the 2000 Gold Cup. Canada aims to emulate Mexico’s 2001 Copa America run, where Mexico reached the final before losing to Colombia.
Argentina’s defensive stability and tactical discipline under Scaloni will be pivotal, also giving their world-class frontline a base to build upon. Canada, under Marsch, has transformed into a more disciplined and resilient team. Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies will be crucial in breaking down Argentina’s defence. SoccerSouls takes a closer look at this clash.
Team News and Predicted XI
Argentina
Lionel Messi was not at his best against Ecuador and will be keen to make amends for the penalty miss in the shootout. he missed the final group game with a hamstring injury but now appears to be back to full fitness.
Lionel Scaloni is likely to retain his flexible 4-3-3 formation with Emiliano Martínez in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and Marcos Acuna.
Midfielder Leandro Paredes should perform the role of the pivot in the centre, giving Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister and the dynamic Rodrigo De Paul the freedom to push forward. Lionel Messi is expected to don the playmaker’s role with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez leading the line. Angel Di Maria will offer Argentina another option off the bench should they need to shift gears.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Emi. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Mac Allister, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, La. Martinez, Alvarez
Canada
Inter Milan Tajon Buchanan remains a major doubt for Canada after he suffered a broken tibia during training just days before their match against Venezuela. This injury puts his participation in doubt not just for the semi-final clash against Argentina but also for the remainder of the tournament.
Jesse Marsch has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from for the clash and is expected to set his side up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Maxime Crépeau in goal. The shot-stopper should be protected by the back four of Alistair Johnston, Moise Bombito, Derek Cornelius, and Alphonso Davies.
Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan Osorio should form the double pivot, freeing up Jonathan David to act as the playmaker. Cyle Larin should start up front, with Richie Laryea and Jacob Shaffelburg providing support out wide.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Crepeau; Johnston, Bombito, Cornelius, Davies; Osorio, Eustaquio; Laryea, David, Shaffelburg; Larin
Key Stats
- Argentina have never conceded a goal against Canada.
- Argentina have not lost a major tournament match on U.S. soil since a 3-2 defeat to Romania in the 1994 World Cup’s round of 16.
- A win on the night will see Canmada make it to their first-ever Copa America final at the first time of asking.
- Argentina have not made it to the final of the competition as defending champions since 1959.
Match Deciding Duel
Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) vs Derek Cornelius (Canada)
Lautaro Martinez is the top scorer in the tournament this season and has made it a habit of scoring late goals for Argentina. This augurs well for a side that is defensively compact, giving them a second wind to settle the game as the opposition gets tired. Derek Cornelius will have his hands full all night but will know that he cannot slack off for even a second with Martinez on the prowl.
Argentina’s ability to score late coupled with Canada’s vulnerabilities in the second half of the game makes for a thrilling finale in the final 30 minutes of the first semifinal. While Argentina do have several threats and matchwinners in their lineup, Martinez’s clinical touch has given them the edge this summer. He will certainly be aiming to make a difference once again on Tuesday.
Transfer Watch
Jonathan David
The LOSC Lille attacker is Canada’s trump card going forward and is expected to leave the Ligue 1 giants this summer. David is a pacy player whose ability to get into space and clinical ability in the box helps make a difference. While several clubs are keeping tabs on him, a solid showing against the defending FIFA World Cup holders will only help boost his profile among potential suitors.
David will be up against the meanest defence in the competition on the night. The duo of Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martinez aren’t just formidable defenders but their ‘take no prisoners’ approach will certainly add a physical element to the duel. David is unlikely to come up against a meaner backline in the competition and how well he handles this challenge could determine his stock this summer.
Prediction
Argentina 2-0 Canada
Both teams will be familiar with each other having felt each other out on the opening day. The stakes are much higher this time round and Canada will be hoping for a monumental upset. Argentina were handed a late scare against Ecuador and that perhaps will ensure they don’t take Tuesday’s game for granted. The game should be a hard-fought one with Argentina’s match winners making the difference in the second half of the game.
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