Trending

The impact of Lionel Messi’s Absence in Copa America 2024 match

Lionel Messi

As a die-hard fan of Lionel Messi, I couldn’t help but be glued to my screen on July 6th, anxiously watching Inter Miami take on Cincinnati. The match turned out to be a rough night for Miami fans as our team suffered a devastating 6-1 loss. Without Lionel Messi, the game just wasn’t the same, and the reactions from fans, including myself, have been intense.

The Match Breakdown

Inter Miami had been on a roll, winning their last four MLS games even without Messi and Luis Suarez, who are currently representing their national teams at the 2024 Copa America. But this match against Cincinnati was a different story.

The game started with Cincinnati’s Yuya Kubo scoring in the 10th minute. Our hopes were briefly lifted when Serhiy Kryvtsov equalized, but things quickly went downhill. Cincinnati took control, with goals from Luciano Acosta, Pavel Bucha, Yamil Asad, and another from Kubo. Gerardo Valenzuela sealed our fate with a final goal in the 72nd minute.

Adding to our woes, Sergio Busquets, a Barcelona legend now playing for Miami, was sent off with a second yellow card for dissent. Playing with ten men for the last part of the game made an already tough situation impossible to turn around.

Missing the Magic of Messi

Lionel Messi’s absence was deeply felt. His stats this season are nothing short of extraordinary—14 goals and 11 assists in 15 appearances. His presence on the field has been a game-changer, and without him, Miami looked like a completely different team. As one fan put it, “Messi will come back to save you soon… hold on.”

Another fan expressed a sentiment many of us share: “It’s never the same without Messi. But you held on for a good while lads. Let’s hope Cinci drops points in the coming games.”

Fans’ Reactions

The fan reactions on social media were a mix of disappointment and understanding. Some noted that Miami had managed to win without Messi before, chalking up the loss to a bad day. Others highlighted how much Messi’s absence was felt, not just in terms of skill but also the morale and confidence he brings to the team.

One fan tweeted, “They lost 3 points, it doesn’t matter whether it’s 2-1 or 6-1, same outcome. So we are now second in the East in July. Compared to where we were this time last year I’ll take it. Onwards and upwards.”

Another fan remarked, “Messi was really carrying this team,” a sentiment echoed by many. The team’s recent form without Messi, Suarez, and other key players like Alba, Rojas, and Gómez had set expectations low, but the 6-1 scoreline was still a shock.

Coach Tata Martino’s Thoughts

Inter Miami’s coach Tata Martino didn’t shy away from admitting that Cincinnati deserved their win. He acknowledged that despite Miami’s recent good form, the team still has a lot to work on, especially defensively. Martino pointed out that Cincinnati’s offensive threat and possession stats highlighted the gap Miami needs to bridge.

He stated, “We had a period early in the season where we were vulnerable in back, we started to fix that, the previous five or six games we had done a solid job defending, but this game we reverted defensively to how we played early in the season.”

Martino’s candid assessment reflects the reality that while Miami has made significant progress, there’s still a journey ahead to compete consistently at the top level.

Looking Forward

The loss to Cincinnati is a stark reminder of how vital Messi is to Inter Miami. The team will next face Toronto on July 17, and fans are eagerly anticipating the return of Messi and Suarez from Copa America duty. Their return could inject the much-needed boost Miami needs to reclaim their winning form.

In the grand scheme of things, one bad day doesn’t define a season. Inter Miami still holds a strong position in the MLS Eastern Conference, and with key players back, there’s every reason to be optimistic about the remaining games.

As a devoted fan, watching Inter Miami’s 6-1 defeat to Cincinnati was tough. The absence of Lionel Messi was glaringly obvious, and the match served as a harsh reminder of his impact on the team. However, the resilience shown by the team in previous games without their star players offers hope. With Messi and Suarez set to return soon, there’s a strong belief among fans that better days are ahead. This season’s journey has been a rollercoaster, but with the right adjustments and the magic of Messi, Inter Miami can still aim high.

2 Comments

2 Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Most Popular

    To Top