bdmetronews desk ॥ On Tuesday, the United States will host Argentina in the biggest, most important match in the history of the U.S. men’s national team program. Maybe in American soccer, period.
That’s not hyperbole.
The U.S. will be playing in Houston in the semifinals of the Copa America Centenario against Argentina, the top-ranked team in the world, featuring the best player on the planet, Lionel Messi. It will not be one of the ever-popular summer exhibitions that bring the sport’s biggest stars to America to play preseason friendlies with their European league clubs. This game will matter.
And it will be a huge opportunity for the Argentines, especially for Messi. Winning the 2016 Copa America would be a legacy-defining moment for the Argentina captain after leading his country to the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa America only to fall short. Capturing the Argentines’ first major tournament title in 23 years would cement the Barcelona star’s place among the all-time greats.
As such, Messi will go the full 90 minutes with his famous left foot on the accelerator, while the Americans attempt to pull the hand break on what appears to be the best team in the world.
Win or lose, the U.S. should draw unprecedented television ratings.
The Americans’ previous three matches in the Copa America each broke records for Fox Sports 1 in terms of the network’s most watched soccer matches ever. The sport is growing, and American sports fans are jumping on board with this Copa America Centenario, a special 100th anniversary edition of the South American championship that also involves teams from North and Central America, and the Caribbean.
What is all the more incredible about the record 2.132 million viewers who tuned into the USMNT’s quarterfinal victory over Ecuador last Thursday is that Game 6 of the NBA Finals was played at the same time. In fact, the NBA Finals got a 30-minute head start on the Copa America and also concluded after the USA-Ecuador match. With the NBA Finals over and only baseball competing for sports-loving eyeballs, even casual American sports fans should be interested by Tuesday’s unique opportunity to see the best player and the best team the sport has to offer.
by yahoo
