Kaylah Walton
In a surprising turn of events, former USMNT defender Alexi Lalas has voiced his disapproval of Shakira’s halftime show at the Copa America final. Known for her energetic performances at major events like the FIFA World Cup and the Super Bowl, Shakira’s solo act during the Argentina-Colombia final failed to meet expectations, leaving fans and critics underwhelmed.
Alexi Lalas, in a recent episode of the State of the Union podcast, openly expressed his criticism of the performance by the three-time Grammy winner. Lalas pointed out several aspects of Shakira’s show that he found peculiar and lacking in quality.
He pointed out that Shakira performed alone without backup dancers, creating a visually unappealing scene that left the audience expecting more. Lalas raised concerns about the stage setup, playback usage, and lighting, suggesting that changes needed to be made in the production team responsible for the show.
Disappointment among fans and players
Lalas’s critique resonated with widespread disappointment among fans who criticized Shakira for using playback during her performance of popular songs like “Hips Don’t Lie.” The former player called for accountability within the production team and highlighted specific issues with the lighting effects used during the show.
Despite the criticisms, Lalas acknowledged some positive elements of Shakira’s performance, particularly praising her outfit and its disco-like appearance that added a certain charm to the overall show.
Colombia’s head coach, Nestor Lorenzo, reportedly expressed frustration at not being informed about Shakira’s performance beforehand, as it caused a significant delay in the match, pushing the start of the second half beyond the usual timeframe.
Colombia’s coach reacts to the delay
Nestor Lorenzo shared mixed feelings about the delay, emphasizing the potential physical impact on players due to the extended halftime period. Despite the setback, Argentina went on to secure victory in the Copa America final, with Lorenzo refraining from attributing Colombia’s loss to the halftime show, though the incident contributed to the controversies surrounding the tournament.
