Argentina Defeats Canada in Copa America Opener Amid Pitch Controversy

Defending champions Argentina began their Copa America title defense with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Canada at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The match, which marked the opening of the prestigious tournament, saw Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez break the deadlock early in the second half, followed by a late goal from substitute Lautaro Martinez off a pass from captain Lionel Messi.

The win extends Argentina's unbeaten streak in Copa America matches to nine, a run that includes their triumph in Brazil in 2021 and a third-place finish two years earlier. The victory also sets up an exciting clash against Chile, scheduled for June 26 at 02:00 BST.

However, the match was not without controversy, as Argentina's manager Lionel Scaloni voiced strong criticism of the playing surface. Normally fitted with artificial turf, the stadium had undergone a last-minute switch to temporary grass for the tournament, a decision that drew ire from Scaloni despite his team's victory.

"In all honesty, we're grateful for the win," Scaloni remarked. "Otherwise, it would have been an easy excuse. We've known for seven months that we would play here, and they changed the pitch just two days ago."

He continued, "It's not conducive to a good game. This stadium is beautiful, and with artificial turf, it would have been spectacular. But with today's pitch, it's not suitable for players of this caliber."

Argentina's next opponents, Chile, are also gearing up after a strong start in their group stage campaign. Meanwhile, Canada, under the management of Jesse Marsch, will face Peru in their next fixture on June 25 at 23:00 BST.

This year's Copa America is being hosted across various venues in the United States, utilizing stadiums from Major League Soccer (MLS) and NFL franchises to accommodate the tournament's fixtures.

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