Messi returns with the Argentine team in the South American qualifying round

Messi returns with the Argentine team in the South American qualifying round
Messi returns with the Argentine team in the South American qualifying round

(CNN Spanish) – Lionel Messi is back with the shirt he loves the most. His stage self-confidence, with which he casts a spell on a playing field, will once again place him as the emblem and captain in his love saga with the team, after July’s consecration in the Copa América held in the United States.

The top star of the Albiceleste “is fine,” said Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni on Tuesday from Miami at a press conference, prior to the duel that Argentina will hold against Venezuela on matchday 9 of the tie this Thursday the 10th in the Venezuelan city of Maturín .

For this commitment, scheduled for 5 pm Eastern Time in the United States, the Argentine coach expanded on Messi’s physical condition: “He has played several games before coming to us and that is what he needed: to add minutes.”

The Albiceleste captain returned with Inter Miami after 62 days and it was on September 14 against Philadelphia Union, within the framework of matchday 31 of the MLS regular phase. In his reunion in the green rectangle, he accomplished – once again – the extraordinary routine: he scored two goals in a 4-minute sequence, and also gave an assist for his friend Luis Suárez’s goal, turning the result around for the subsequent 3-1 victory for Las Garzas.

The winner of 8 Ballon d’Ors went to the substitute bench on the following date: in the 2-goal tie against Atlanta United, entering the second half. After that, on September 21 he started against New York City in a 1-goal tie, a match in which Messi had his classic steps, dribbles and his fiery shots with the ball stopped, mainly in the first half, where he was seen his best production.

On September 28, “The Flea” started against Charlotte FC, and was a key player scoring a great goal that allowed Inter Miami to tie the game in the 66th minute.

Prior to joining the Argentina national team, the footballer was Inter Miami’s top figure in the 3-2 away victory against Columbus Crew. Messi scored two goals; the second was a spectacular free kick goal.

The game against Columbus Crew had the special honor of being the second title that Messi obtained with Inter Miami, by winning the Supporters’ Shield, a crown awarded to the team that scores the most points in the regular phase of the MLS.

Another good incentive was that it was the fourth game played after his return and he looked in very good shape, completing all the minutes of the game, in which he had greater participation, both individually and collectively.

Already incorporated into the Argentine camp, and a few hours before this duel against Venezuela, Scaloni assured: “Before the previous call we had talked and the decision was that he would not come because he needed to play. Now it’s in good condition, it’s fine. He will be part of the team,” confirmed the DT.

To face the Venezuelan team, led by Argentine Fernando Batista, the two-time American champion will not be able to count on Emiliano Martínez in goal because he must serve a double suspension date. Another important absence is that of Cristian “Cuti” Romero, given that the defender is suspended for one date due to a double yellow. Also added is the absence due to injury of Nicolás González, which means that the Argentine team will have three significant casualties.

Another key player in the team’s tactical structure is Alexis Mac Allister, who was unable to finish the weekend match in which his team Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 1-0, making it highly probable that he will be part of the starting team. .

Argentina, which is in first position in the South American qualifiers with 18 points, has just beaten Chile 3 to 0 at home on matchday 7. Meanwhile, on its visit to Colombia, it fell to the coffee growers 2-1, in the chapter corresponding to date 8.

Venezuela, for its part, is in sixth position in the table with 10 points, like Brazil, but with a worse goal difference. La Vinotinto comes from drawing at home on matchday 8 against Uruguay, which they clearly surpassed in the game, and from losing in their outing on matchday 7 against Bolivia, against whom they categorically lost 4-0.

Messi returns to a land where he lost the first final with Argentina, and it was in the 2007 Copa América in Venezuela. Now he returns as a two-time continental champion, with the usual competitive “eye of the tiger” and with the desire to continue leaving his football tattoo of his unmatched talent. He does it with the shirt, and all the glory on top, which he has allowed himself to continue enjoying after his outstanding consecration in the Cup in Qatar.

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