Will Messi and his teammates dare to go home after Maradona's 'threat'?

(Baonghean.vn) - Before the 2016 Copa America final, "Golden Boy" Diego Maradona declared that Argentina must beat Chile, or else they should not return home. So after the loss, will Messi and his teammates dare to return home?

Argentina reached the 2016 Copa America Final after defeating the United States in the Semi-finals with a score of 4-0. In which, Lionel Messi became the player with the most goals in the history of the Tango team with 55 goals.

Argentina are trying to win their first Copa America title since 1993. They lost to Chile in the 2015 Copa America Final on penalties and the upcoming rematch is a chance for Messi and his teammates to get revenge.

Maradona: "If they don't win the championship, don't come back."

“Of course I think Argentina will win,” Diego Maradona, who helped Argentina win the 1986 World Cup, told C5N. But he also sent a warning to coach Tata Martino’s players: “But if they don’t win the championship, don’t come back.”

However, Messi's Argentina team fell to Chile in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of play, meaning they have not "washed away the shame". He and his teammates do not know how to respond to Maradona's threats.

In the penalty shootout, Arturo Vidal missed Chile's first penalty, but Argentina's stars were even worse. Lionel Messi and then Lucas Biglia failed to take their kicks.

Messi can't believe he missed the first penalty

In this match, Argentina were the ones who started the game better and created many dangerous situations for Chile.

Notably, in the 22nd minute, Gonzalo Higuain had a chance to escape and face goalkeeper Bravo, but he finished too carelessly, sending the ball wide of the goal.

In the 32nd minute, Argentina still had the advantage in numbers when Chile's Marcelo Diaz was sent off for receiving a second yellow card.

Playing with one more man, Argentina continuously pressed the field but could not penetrate the Chilean net. And before the end of the first half, they also lost Marcos Rojo. This player received a direct red card after colliding with Vidal.

When the two sides had equal numbers, Chile were the ones who controlled the game and started to put pressure on Argentina's goal in the early stages of the second half.

Meanwhile, Argentina took the initiative at the end of the match, but could not score. The score remained 0-0 after 90 minutes of regulation, forcing the two teams to enter extra time.

Messi has not been able to "avenge" the loss to Chile 2 years ago. The question is whether he and his teammates dare to return after this defeat?

Messi and his teammates were disappointed to see Chile win the Copa America for the second time.

In the 99th minute, Vargas had a chance to open the score but his unmarked header could not beat goalkeeper Romero.

Immediately after that, Argentina also responded with a header from Sergio Aguero after a pass from Messi's free kick, but was blocked by goalkeeper Bravo.

After 30 minutes of extra time, the two teams were still tied 0-0 and were forced into a penalty shootout. This was the second consecutive time Argentina and Chile had to decide the winner by a penalty shootout in two consecutive Copa Americas.

Chile won 4-2 after 5 penalties.

Messi and his teammates have yet to "avenge" themselves. After the defeat and Maradona's threats, will they dare to go home?

NN(Synthetic)