Lionel Messi said he was feeling bitter after Colombia heaped agony on Copa America hopefuls Argentina in Salvador.
Argentina – back-to-back runners-up in 2015 and 2016 – were upstaged 2-0 by Colombia in their Copa opener on Saturday.
After a drab first half, Argentina were stunned as Colombia substitutes Roger Martinez and Duvan Zapata condemned La Albiceleste to their first opening-game Copa defeat since 1979.
And Argentina captain Messi – who was largely subdued by Carlos Queiroz s men as he eyes his first senior title with the South American giants – lamented the result.
We leave here feeling bitter, Messi told reporters afterwards. In the second half we had our chances.
It takes time to accept this defeat, but let s see what the next days will be like. We need to look at the horizon and move on.
We didn t want to start this way, obviously, but now we have to lift our heads and keep going.
0 2 (Roger Martínez y Duván Zapata)
Final del partido en el estadio Arena Fonte Nova de Salvador de Bahía.
— Selección Argentina (@Argentina)
In the first half we retreated a little and were holding on, but in the second we really opened up, said Messi, who almost broke the deadlock in the second half but directed a header just wide of the post.
Whenever you lose it s hard for us, we usually take it badly. Now we have to think about Paraguay.
Messi continued: We have to take the positive things of today and think about tomorrow. We have many chances.
Argentina – seeking their first major international title since 1993 – are back in action against Paraguay on Wednesday in Group B.
