Lionel Messi's Absence Gives Colombia 'Peace of Mind' Ahead of Argentina Clash
No. 10 is injured and will miss Copa America semi-final clash with Colombians
Relief for Colombia as Argentina talisman Lionel Messi ruled out of Copa America clash
Colombia will face Argentina in the semi-finals of the Copa America on Tuesday without the threat of Lionel Messi. The Barcelona forward has been ruled out of the match with a hamstring injury, and his absence has given Colombia a major boost. "It's a relief not to have to face Messi," said Colombia coach Carlos Queiroz. "He's the best player in the world, and he can change a game in an instant. We're still going to have to be very careful, but it's definitely a big advantage for us." Messi is Argentina's captain and talisman, and he has been in excellent form in this tournament. He has scored four goals in four games, and he has been a constant threat to opposition defenses. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in Argentina's 2-0 win over Venezuela on Friday, and he has been ruled out of the semi-final. Messi's absence is a huge blow for Argentina, and it has given Colombia a major boost. Colombia are a strong team, but they are not as strong as Argentina with Messi in the team. Without Messi, Argentina will be much less dangerous in attack, and Colombia will be confident of getting a result. "We know that Argentina are still a very good team, even without Messi," said Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez. "But we're confident that we can beat them. We've got a good team, and we're playing with a lot of confidence. We're going to go out there and give it our all." The match between Argentina and Colombia is scheduled to take place on Tuesday at 8pm local time. Colombia will be looking to reach the final of the Copa America for the first time since 2001, while Argentina will be looking to win the tournament for the first time since 1993.
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