Preview: Argentina set to welcome Messi back, Ecuador aims for another semifinal after New Year’s Day

On July 5 at 9:00 AM, the Copa América quarterfinals kick off with defending champions Argentina taking on Ecuador at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

Despite not securing convincing victories in the group stage, Argentina’s title defense has been solid, with three consecutive wins and the distinction of being the only team in the tournament yet to concede a goal. A term that aptly describes Lionel Scaloni’s side is “scarily consistent.” Argentina demonstrated dominance against Canada, Chile, and Peru, scoring all five goals in the second half of their matches, leaving fans confident that they can secure victory even if initially under pressure.

The Albiceleste are currently on an eight-match winning streak across all competitions, keeping six clean sheets and conceding only two goals. It’s noteworthy that only three of these eight victories featured more than two goals, highlighting Scaloni’s emphasis on controlling the game. Argentina has historically performed well in quarterfinals, advancing to the semis in their last three appearances. Their last exit at this stage was in the 2011 Copa América, when they were eliminated by Uruguay on penalties in front of their home crowd.

Ecuador, after losing their opening match to Venezuela, rallied to finish second in Group B, securing their spot against Argentina. This marks their second consecutive appearance in the Copa América quarterfinals and their third in the last four editions. Manager Félix Sánchez will be looking to guide his team to their first semifinal since 1993. Coincidentally, Ecuador has kept a clean sheet in the first halves of all their group games, providing a contrasting narrative to Argentina’s inability to score before halftime.

Both teams have received boosts in squad availability. Captain Lionel Messi, who missed the final group match due to a hamstring issue, has fully recovered and participated in full training, making him likely to feature in the quarterfinal. Players like MacAllister, Alvarez, and De Paul will return from rest to the starting lineup, while Lautaro Martínez, leading scorer with consecutive goals, will aim to maintain his form. For Ecuador, top scorer Enner Valencia returned from suspension to play the full 90 minutes in the final group match and made a strong impact, while goalkeeper Domínguez, who excelled against Mexico, is expected to retain his place in goal.

Despite their resilience and determination, Ecuador has consistently struggled against Argentina, losing six of their last seven encounters and drawing one. Their last victory over La Albiceleste came in a 2015 World Cup qualifier (2-0), and their recent record against Argentina is rather bleak. Given their current form, Argentina’s progression to the semifinals will be a significant focus.

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