Shakira’s Controversial Copa América Final Performance Sparks Heated Debate

 

n a surprising twist, former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas has joined the chorus of critics who found Shakira’s halftime performance at the Copa America final lacking. Known for her electrifying shows at events like the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl, Shakira’s solo act during the Argentina-Colombia final fell flat, leaving fans and critics unimpressed.Lalas, speaking on the latest episode of the State of the Union podcast, didn’t hold back in his critique of the three-time Grammy winner’s performance. “Couple of things were really strange for me,” Lalas began, addressing the peculiarities of Shakira’s gig.

“One, she came out alone, and it was as if almost everyone was looking around, saying ‘Where the hell are the backup dancers?’ I didn’t know if she was supposed to, but it begged for backup dancers and she was solo. Had her dancing around. It just didn’t look normal.”

Fans and players are disappointed

Lalas’s comments echo a broader sentiment of disappointment. Fans blasted the Colombian pop icon for using playback during her performance of hits like “Hips Don’t Lie.” The stage arrangement and lighting were also points of contention for Lalas.

“My big problem, I don’t know who does their lighting. I don’t know who the production team was. But somebody needs to get fired,” the former player said. “The lighting on her legs… She might have been wearing fishnet sort of thing. But whenever the lighting was on her legs, it made it look like she had fish scales.”

Despite his criticisms, Lalas did find some positives, noting that Shakira’s “mirrory” outfit gave a “disco” look that added charm to her performance.

Adding to the controversy, Colombia’s head coach, Nestor Lorenzo, was reportedly upset about not being informed about Shakira’s performance in advance. The halftime show led to a significant delay in the match, with the second half starting 26 minutes late instead of the usual 15 minutes.

Colombia’s coach is not happy with Shakira

Lorenzo had mixed feelings about the impact of this delay. “Let’s see when the rules are changed beforehand for both teams or the field is bad for both, the rest minutes are the same for both… I can’t say it’s good, it’s bad, who it favors,” he said.

Lorenzo further commented on the potential physical impact on the players due to the extended halftime. “Now it turns out that there is a show and we can go out in the 20th or 25th minute with the impact it can have on the players’ physical condition, as they can cool down. One knows the cost of those recovery minutes in the locker room.”

Despite the delay, Argentina managed to break the deadlock and find the net to win the Copa America. While Lorenzo refrained from blaming the halftime show for Colombia’s loss, the incident has certainly added to the list of controversies surrounding this year’s Copa America.