Off the wire
• China-Chile financial cooperation new springboard for bilateral collaboration: Chinese ambassador  • Xinhua China news advisory -- June 10  • Chinese airlines to launch more air routes to Japan  • HSBC to shut down activities in Brazil, to focus on China, India  • British PM hails "golden year" in UK-China relations  • Commentary: Suu Kyi's China debut underscores common wish for better ties  • Myanmar's NLD party leader leaves for her first visit to China  • France beat England 1-0 in rain-plagued women's World Cup game  • Feature: Who will be the best footballer in Copa America?  • Roundup: Report on children, armed conflict not easy to draft: UN Spokesperson  
You are here: 　 Home

Messi comes to Copa America with better form than in World Cup

Xinhua, June 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Barcelona star Lionel Messi says he is in better form than last year and expects Argentina to win the 2015 Copa America after the disappointment of losing the World Cup final a year ago.

Messi, who just helped Barcelona deliver a treble of Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey, has re-gathered with teammates of Argentina and started the preparation for the upcoming Copa America.

The Argentina attended his first press conference on Tuesday in Chile' s La Serena, where they will play their first match against Paraguay in four days.

"Today I get better than the last World Cup. Last year most of us were recovering from injuries. I don't know whether it's the best moment of my career, but I do feel good and happy, when I go onto the court I can achieve things as people want," said Messi.

Argentina went down to Germany in extra-time during last year's World Cup final, a result which left the Barcelona man still searching for a major honor with his country.

"This group deserves to get something after the World Cup," Messi said. "It's a dream to get a [trophy] with Argentina. Individually and physically, we are better than we were at the World Cup. We have great players to lift the Copa."

"But we have to prove it on the field, because we have great rivals who want the same and it won't be easy."

Although he believed his team is "favorite" to win in Chile, but he warned that it is a Copa America which has a balance of power among several teams, praising the host Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.

Argentina will play defending champions Uruguay, 2011 finalists Paraguay and CONCACAF team Jamaica in Group B. Endi