Jesse Marsch reveals Argentina and Lionel Messi after a half-time kick in the teeth

Lionel Messi and Argentina should be fined for making Jesse Marsch and his Canada team wait for the second half of their Copa America opener yesterday. That’s the view of the former Leeds United head coach, who was frustrated by the advantage he felt the Argentinians enjoyed at the break.

Canada was shut out for the second half of the game against Argentina who, in Marsch’s eyes, took more time than they were allowed to analyze their opponent on video. Marsch said his nation would be fined for such a transgression, but doubted Messi’s side would face the same punishment.

“When they were waiting, I knew they were watching video and analyzing how they wanted to play against us,” he said. “Now, again, I wish the refs get it right.

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“If we were five minutes late, we would get a fine. That would be a big problem. Let’s see what happens with Argentina. They must be fined.

“How late were they late? Twenty minutes? Thirtieth? I do not know. It was a long time, but they had that time to prepare how they wanted to play against us in the second half, which if we had known beforehand that we could have 10 minutes more, then we could have prepared some more things. .

“In the end, I made sure the players knew they were going to come up with a new plan and they basically rotated a little bit more at the three, but we still dealt with it.”

Marsch followed it up with a direct appeal to Argentinian newspapers Olé and La Nacion, ensuring they would report his desire for the country to be fined.

“Argentina should be fined,” he said. “Okay? Fined. Write this, Olé, La Nacion. They should be fined for coming out 20 minutes late in the second half.”