URGENT: IMF reaches staff-level deal with Egypt on fifth, sixth reviews    Egyptian pound trades mixed against dollar in early Tuesday dealings    Egypt opens doors to investment with competitive advantages, investor-friendly climate: Finance Minister    Gaza death toll rises amid mounting warnings over humanitarian conditions    Egyptian medical convoy arrives in Sudan to support healthcare sector amid facility damage    Egypt's Prime Minister orders faster health insurance rollout and new mining investment push    Breaking the Taboo: Japan's Nuclear Debate Stirs Old Ghosts in East Asia    Egypt, Oman discuss establishing integrated industrial projects    Egypt's digital exports reach $7.4bn over seven years: Communications Minister    Shadows over the Sunshine State: Miami talks peel back the layers of Ukraine's peace puzzle    Egypt's SCZONE signs EGP 1b deal to develop ready-built factories in West Qantara    Egypt, Gambia discuss opening first Egyptian medical centre in Banjul    Egypt sends 15th urgent aid convoy to Gaza in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services    Al-Sisi: Egypt seeks binding Nile agreement with Ethiopia    Egyptian-built dam in Tanzania is model for Nile cooperation, says Foreign Minister    Egypt flags red lines, urges Sudan unity, civilian protection    Al-Sisi affirms support for Sudan's sovereignty and calls for accountability over conflict crimes    Central Bank of Egypt, Medical Emergencies, Genetic and Rare Diseases Fund renew deal for 3 years    Egypt's SPNEX Satellite successfully enters orbit    Egypt unveils restored colossal statues of King Amenhotep III at Luxor mortuary temple    Egyptian Golf Federation appoints Stuart Clayton as technical director    4th Egyptian Women Summit kicks off with focus on STEM, AI    Egypt's PM reviews major healthcare expansion plan with Nile Medical City    UNESCO adds Egyptian Koshari to intangible cultural heritage list    UNESCO adds Egypt's national dish Koshary to intangible cultural heritage list    Egypt recovers two ancient artefacts from Belgium    Egypt, Saudi nuclear authorities sign MoU to boost cooperation on nuclear safety    Giza master plan targets major hotel expansion to match Grand Egyptian Museum launch    Australia returns 17 rare ancient Egyptian artefacts    Egypt warns of erratic Ethiopian dam operations after sharp swings in Blue Nile flows    Egypt golf team reclaims Arab standing with silver; Omar Hisham Talaat congratulates team    Egypt launches Red Sea Open to boost tourism, international profile    Sisi expands national support fund to include diplomats who died on duty    Egypt's PM reviews efforts to remove Nile River encroachments    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Argentina trusting Messi to find answer to Ospina's Colombia
Published in Ahram Online on 06 - 07 - 2021

Argentina will continue to trust that Lionel Messi finds a way to overcome Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina on Tuesday at Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia to return to the Copa America final.
Beat the impressive Ospina and Colombia, and Argentina will take on Brazil in Saturday's decider. The hosts beat Peru 1-0 on Monday and star Neymar ended a news conference by saying he wanted to face Argentina in the final.
Messi has been in Barcelona form, scoring four goals and giving four assists in one of the best tournament displays of his Argentina career. The Copa America top scorer netted one and assisted his teammates twice in beating Ecuador 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
Ospina stopped two penalties in the shootout against Uruguay in the quarterfinals, was key in the 0-0 draw in regulation time, and plays a pivotal leadership role for a team that has scored only three times in the entire tournament.
Messi is seeking his first major title with Argentina, which has not lifted a trophy since the 1993 Copa America. Colombia's drought is not as long, but its only Copa title was in 2001.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised Colombia as ``a tough rival,`` and was wary it will have back Juan Guillermo Cuadrado from a suspension.
``We hope to play the match with the same intensity, the same willpower,'' said Scaloni, who has led Argentina on an unbeaten streak of 18 matches.
The coach said later on Monday that defender Cristian Romero is still recovering from an injury, so German Pezzella is likely to start. He still has doubts on his left back position between Marcos Acuna and Nicolas Tagliafico. There's also a choice to make in midfield between Leandro Paredes and Guido Rodriguez.
``Argentina is a very compact team, very mature,`` Colombia coach Reinaldo Rueda said. ``You need to play with wit, make a lot of effort, to take them off balance.''
Colombia will count on Cuadrado's return. He was suspended against Uruguay.
``It isn't only him (Messi), Argentina has many players that could damage in any circumstance,'' Cuadrado warned. ``We should not pay attention only to Messi. We will play a final against Argentina. We are not giving 100%, we are giving 200%.''
Rueda's main doubt is who Duvan Zapata's partner up front will be; Rafael Santos Borre or Luis Muriel?
(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)


Clic here to read the story from its source.