Key events
Now Shakira is dancing with creatures that look like the robots from Styx album Kilroy Was Here and the video for Mr. Roboto while large illuminations that look like rubies float around.
No matter what’s going on, though, Shakira manages to find the camera and strut towards it. I think she’s trying to tell us something.
A GIANT WOLF-LIKE CREATURE, SURELY ALIEN IN NATURE, HAS DESCENDED INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE STADIUM … oh … that’s the halftime show. How’d they do that?
The first shoutout to Colombia comes about one minute into Shakira’s opening song.
Matthew Richman points out a potential reason for Messi to roll around as he did: “ox commentary is not usually a great source of insight, but they pointed out that Messi’s rolls were to get back on the pitch so that play couldn’t be restarted. We’ll see how he’s moving in the second half!”
Speaking of crowd-related chaos, your highly recommended halftime reading concerns the “White Horse” FA Cup of 1923, in which mounted police methodically moved the surplus spectators off the playing surface at Wembley.
Halftime: Argentina 0-0 Colombia
The upstarts took the fight to the champions, with Colombia dominating statistically and in non-mathematical observations. They created a couple of good chances but put nothing into the net.
45 min: James Rodriguez takes a knock to the back of the leg, and the referee lets play continue rather awkwardly for a bit, while players on both teams stop because everyone knows that’s a foul. Finally, the whistle blows.
Only one minute of stoppage time despite the lengthy injury delays.
43 min: Tagliafico makes a foray forward from his left back position, and Santiago Arias gets him with a stray elbow/forearm to bring him down, yielding a free kick and a stern admonishment from the referee but no yellow card. The kick is played toward the center but headed over the bar.
42 min: Argentina turn over the ball, and Luis Diaz is briefly off to the races, but De Paul runs him down and wins it back. Quite the battler, Mr. De Paul.
40 min: Shot for Colombia – a Jhon Arias header that doesn’t have much on it.
And another shot, this one a worm-burner from long range that’s straight at Martinez.
39 min: Messi was briefly out but is back. He walks at a snail’s pace. Then the ball is played to him, and he puts on a nifty set of moves to free himself from a defender.
He’s still limping, though.
36 min: Messi is down. He rolls around for a while – which usually indicates that someone is not seriously hurt because it seems like a really bad idea to have repeated contact with the ground if you’ve just picked up a bruise or a sprain or a break.
He was hurt in a collision as he was going over the byline with the ball, a result of the Colombian defense swarming to shut off any path he had toward goal.
32 min: I’m going to say that was a weak advantage call from our referee – Colombia didn’t have the ball in a good spot, and they would’ve loved the free kick instead.
Colombia back with it, and Lerma unleashes a SHOT from more than 25 yards out that nicks off the outstretched hands of the Argentine goalkeeper Martinez and just past the post. Possibly a brilliant save, though he didn’t seem to affect the flight path that much.
30 min: The mesmerizing Colombian passing attack has given way to the jarring sights of fouls and pointless passes in midfield.
And just after I say that, Luis Diaz brilliantly back-heels the ball to keep it in play, and he sends it straight to a teammate.
29 min: This is a long break for on-field treatment. Most referees would only allow this for a head injury, which this is not.
27 min: Yellow card to Cordoba, who reached out his leg rather recklessly to try to get to a cross from the right. Lisandro Martinez is down and in some distress.
25 min: Colombia attack down the left, with Mojica coming up from left back to join the fun. A cross doesn’t find anyone in yellow, though, and Argentina take a goal kick.
And they quickly lose the ball again. This is astounding.
23 min: The Colombian press is targeting Argentina’s left flank, where Tagliafico has now struggled on more than one occasion to get free.
20 min: CHANCE for Argentina off some smooth buildup work. The ball winds up with Di Maria on the left, and he centers for his longtime running mate, Messi. But the Inter Miami man doesn’t quite hit it cleanly – which for a split second seems to be worse for Colombia because the ball moves unpredictably. Vargas has time, though, to reset himself and smother the shot.
17 min: Colombia still bossing this game, which I’m sure is a surprise to many. But when you’re in the form they’ve been in, your confidence is surely sky-high.
They take their feet off the gas pedal for a moment, though, allowing Argentina’s defenders to pad their pass-completion stats without actually passing midfield.
14 min: Rob Coughlin writes again to say he was referring to disorder at the Euro 2020(1) final at Wembley.
In other news of unruly behavior, Enzo Fernandez plows into James Rodriguez. Free kick from 35 yards out for Colombia. It’s overhit, and Martinez snares it.
The sound and video on the Fox broadcast (at least on what I’m seeing and hearing) are about three seconds out of sync, so I’m going to know what happens before it happens.
12 min: Santiago Arias overlaps on the right and puts in a dangerous cross that Argentina has to clear for a Colombian corner. From that, Martinez has to make his second save of the match already.
10 min: Argentina briefly break the Colombian grip on the game, but just long enough for a goal kick to sail down the field to allow Colombia to collect.
Zach Neeley writes: “The locals involved in stadium logistics for a match like this are people that run the stadium itself and local public safety, not the citizens of say Miami in general. It’s silly to be offended by expressing (mild) concern that this stadium will be hosting World Cup matches in not too long. Completely missing the important part imho.”
I think it is indeed mild concern. Would I worry as a fan? No. Would I be taking notes if I worked for the World Cup organizing committee? I’d better be.
8 min: At least 25 passes so far in this Colombian possession, but they’re going backwards.
7 min: OFF THE POST from Colombia’s Cordoba, who took a short cross and fired across the face of goal.
5 min: Colombia are also showing some interest in pressing, leading to a clearance that looks more like Olympic taekwondo.
Colombia win it back and get the first shot on goal, though it’s an easy one for Martinez to handle.
3 min: And that corner kick takes a bit of time as our officials try in vain to get players to quit shoving each other.
2 min: It’s 85 degrees (Fahrenheit, obviously – we’re not on Venus) and humid, and Argentina are still pressing the Colombian defense as if their lives depending on it.
Argentina win a corner kick.
1 min: A half-chance for Argentina already.
Kickoff
We’re finally underway at 9:23 pm ET.
It’s partially paywalled, but veteran Miami soccer writer Michelle Kaufman has a recap of how things transpired to this point.
The new kickoff time is …
Well, they haven’t said. But the bad news is that they’re just about to start the national anthems … after a few more repetitions of the Copa theme music. Ah, at last, they’ve cut it.
So the good news is that they’re just about to start the national anthems.
Back to the more mundane matter of what we’re supposed to do after the Copa/Euro double ends, Jeremy Spinks writes, “Can I suggest getting back to worrying about football transfers like we are meant to do for 8 weeks?”
Yeah, what’s the latest on Alphonso Davies?
We have a report on fans being treated by medical personnel:
I’ve seen a couple of suggestions that the game shouldn’t be played tonight at all.
Just me speaking here – I would be absolutely terrified to be in that stadium if they were to cancel the proceedings.
Paul Mason asks: “How are you managing staying up so late? We are on the espresso martinis and energy drinks.”
Being in the USA helps. The sun just set a few minutes ago.
Of course, I’m the maniac who covers Olympic sports even when they’re in Asia and I end up sleeping during the day, so …
Joe Pearson argues with my take on the best cover version ever: “OMG, as the kids don’t say anymore. The best cover of all time is clearly Santana’s take on Black Magic Woman. I will accept no substitutes!”
That’s quite good as well.
Fans going to the game, or a cut scene from Ocean’s 11?
Our match officials are …
Referee: Raphael Claus (BRA)
AR 1: Bruno Pires (BRA)
AR 2: Rodrigo Correa (BRA)
4th Official: Juan Benitez (PAR)
5th Official: Eduardo Cardozo (PAR)
VAR: Rodolpho Toski (BRA)
AVAR: Danilo Manis (BRA)
Messi has had a run-in with Claus in the past. The language used was improper for this forum. (I think. I’ve never officially asked.)
Joe Pearson checks back in to say Rosemary Clooney’s originals are better than the cover versions to which he was listening.
Along those lines, can we all agree that The Sundays’ version of Wild Horses is the best cover version ever?
Rob Coughlin writes: “Your, ‘The next World Cup will be held here’ is very offensive as a Miami native. But I’m sure this could never happen in a place like….London.”
I’m a boring American, so I can’t speak for Britain, but I think the days of crowd crushes and other disasters are well in the past by now. Did I forget something from the Olympics?
In any case – in case you’re not watching Fox, this is indeed a topic of conversation on the broadcast.
Ryan Casey, though, offers this defense: “While I do understand the side-eyed reactions at the U.S given the 2026 WC is approaching shortly, this is very much a CONMEBOL issue more than a national one. The U.S is second to none in private security contracting (not something I brag about granted), but given how the South American federation has handled other logistical facets of this tournament, I doubt any of them were deployed tonight.”
I’ll say this – a lot of people doubted that the 2002 Winter Olympics should go forward. I’ve never felt safer in my life than I did was there. Everything was locked down. Same for Beijing, but the games I covered in the rest of the country were a little less organized. In Torino, the police seemed like they were going to turn on us at any time, like the stormtroopers did to the Jedi.
How bad is it?
That was the worst thing I have ever experienced, at a football match or otherwise. It was genuinely horrible. So many kids in tears. Adults at their wits’ end. Those fans deserve huge credit for not erupting at some point there. Again, something like a miracle
— Jack Lang (@jacklang) July 15, 2024
I was tempted to counter with some of the wilder things I’ve seen in my journalism career – being stranded by the media bus in Qinhuangdao was stressful but kind of funny in hindsight, and I covered emotionally charged protests during the 1991 Gulf War, but then I got this email from Kathryn Cehrs:
“After Colombian fans stormed the gates at 6:00 the stadium locked the gates until 7:30. No one entered in that time. At 7:30 they let in 3 people at a time through the gates. This continued until 8:00. At 8:00 at the SE gate they opened all the gates all the way. There was an extreme crowd surge/crush. There were no security checks or ticket checks. The entire crowd shoved through the gates at once. After the crowd got through they closed the gates again. I literally fought for my life. I felt something in my chest snap and I lost a shoe in the crush. I am lucky to be alive.”
This is truly heartbreaking.
Liz White has an idea for what to do in a post-Copa summer: “I have a project I’ve been meaning to start with all my sports-free time. I want to try the chaat papri at as many different South Asian take-outs as possible, in the hunt for the best one. I think the key is the balance between the crispiness of the wafers and the mess of all the sauces but I’ll need to do research to be sure. If I’m really craving sports there’s always the baseball.”
I, on the other hand, will be continuing my weight-loss efforts. And finishing up my giant Olympic viewing guide.
Fox just showed a view from outside the stadium. Please tell me I didn’t see lightning …
Hmmmm … nothing on the radar.
New kickoff time: 9:15
OK, now that time will be the actual time. Right?
Players are warming up, and we’re getting camera shots of packed stands.
Joe Pearson checks in: “Big sports day today, and man am I tired. Tour this morning, Wimbledon, Scottish Open final, and then the Euros. And now I have to wait for a delayed Copa final. Sigh. To take out the sting, I am listening to a Bette Midler tribute album to Rosemary Clooney. Why? I have no idea!”
If we get delayed again, I might need to take out my bass and start practicing for some upcoming shows.
But Fox seems a little less optimistic than I am. That’s bad – I’m known for my pessimism.
Jenny Taft, who has done some outstanding sideline reporting tonight, says players have been dealing with family members stuck outside. They’re not happy.
Reminder: The next World Cup will be held … here.
Good news from the stadium …
Chris Smith, who’ll be reporting on this game for The Guardian, says the stadium is now about 90% full. “It happened very quickly,” he says.
So the 8:45 kickoff time might be the final word.
Tomorrow, we have no Euro games. No Copa games. Not even a stage in the Tour de France – which may have been effectively settled today, anyway. What are we supposed to do instead? Work?
Feel free to share your ideas.
Legal game?
Robert Speed writes to point us to Law 7.2, “Half-time interval”: “Per that quaint document known as the Laws of the Game, half time may not exceed 15 minutes. So this contest is not a legitimate game under the laws. Which is a shame.”
I’m reminded of the words of Mike from the great Britcom The Young Ones.
MIKE: It’s only just gone one.
HELEN: Is that the time?
MIKE: No, time is an abstract concept. This is a wristwatch.
Delayed again
New time: 8:45 pm ET. But apparently the gates are open.
Colombia lineup
GK: Camilo Vargas (Atlas), who has allowed twice as many goals in this tournament as his counterpart on the other side of the field. In other words, two.
LB: Johan Mojica (Osasuna)
CB: Davinson Sanchez (Galatasaray), the only player other than Vargas to play all 450 minutes of Colombia’s games so far. He has one goal as well.
CB: Carlos Cuesta (Genk)
RB: Santiago Arias (Bahia), who has played only 63 minutes in the tournament but must fill in for Daniel Muñoz, who got a red card in the semi-final
CM: Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace), who has two goals in the tournament
CM: Richard Rios (Palmeiras)
LM: Luis Diaz (Liverpool), who also has two goals in the Copa
AM: James Rodriguez (São Paulo), who lit up Europe’s top leagues in the 2010s and led his team here with six assists
RM: Jhon Arias (Fluminense)
F: Jhon Cordoba (Krasnodar), yet another two-goal scorer in this tournament
I’ll be back with the Colombia lineup after the presidential address. If there’s an update on kickoff time, I’ll be back sooner. Players are coming back out to warm up, so that’s a good sign that we might not be any later than 8:30 pm ET (35 minutes from now).
Argentina lineup
Assuming things calm down and we’re able to have a soccer game tonight (for those in England: a football match this morning; for those in Italy: something involving calcio), here’s how Argentina will line up …
GK: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), who has been simply brilliant and has conceded only one goal in five games
LB: Nicolas Tagliafuco (Lyon)
CB: Lisandro Martinez (Manchester United), who has a goal in addition to his stellar play at the back
CB: Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
RB: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), who only started one of the group-stage games and came off the bench in the quarter-final but started in the 2-0 win over Canada in the semi-final
CM: Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea), the youngest player (23) getting significant playing time at the Copa
CM: Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid), a bulldog who can also make some slick passes
LM: Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), who has completed more than 90% of his passes
RM: Angel Di Maria (Benfica), who plans to retire from the national team after this final
F: Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), scorer of two goals so far
F: Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), who is Messi
Kickoff delayed
Fans who don’t have tickets are still crowding around the stadium, which means fans that do have tickets are having trouble getting in.
Kickoff will be pushed back until 8:30 pm ET, a little less than an hour from now.
Say this for the Copa in comparison with the Euros. The Copa will have Shakira performing at halftime. Who’d Euro 2024 get?
But even the halftime show isn’t immune to criticism – and it’s coming from Nestor Lorenzo, the coach of Colombia’s team and someone you’d think would be thrilled to have such a star from Colombia appearing during the break.
The problem is that the break will be a bit longer than everyone likes – 25 minutes instead of the usual 15.
As a journalist, I’ll be busy during that time checking facts. Gotta make sure hips don’t lie.
(Sorry, that was terrible. Had to make reference to it at some point.)
We interrupt this with breaking news …
One complaint facing Copa organizers this year has been security. Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa savagely criticized the powers that be after a brawl between his players and Colombian fans, and Canada coach Jesse Marsch said his team was treated like second-class citizens.
Surely, of course, everything will be set straight in time for the final tonight in …
Oh dear …
BREAKING: The gates at Hard Rock Stadium have been breached and scores of fans have begun streaming in for the 2024 #CopaAmerica final. Police are scrambling to try and stem the flow of people. pic.twitter.com/fkoMMYGk8K
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) July 14, 2024
Preamble
Well, that’s a tough act to follow, isn’t it?
The Copa América has had a tough fight for the world’s attention with Euro 2024 running concurrently. The games have been more ragged. Officials have struggled to keep control as the Dark Arts thrive. The host country was knocked out in the group stage. In some games, you might as well have skipped the 90 minutes of regulation play and gone straight to the penalty shootout.
Nevertheless, we have a compelling matchup here between two worthy finalists. Reigning World Cup champion Argentina have aged a bit over the last two years but has a superb defense sitting behind the still-potent Lionel Messi and other veteran attackers. Colombia started the year by beating Spain in a friendly, and they’ve blown out several teams over the last few months – including the United States.
And believe it or not, Colombia have only won this trophy once. What an opportunity they’ll have to double that total tonight in steamy Miami.
