Coach Lionel Scaloni said on Thursday that star Lionel Messi will start Argentina’s game against Guatemala on Friday, in the world champion’s last test before the start of the Copa América in the United States.
“Leo [Messi] He is going to play at the start. We already spoke with him and based on how he is we will see the number of minutes. If he can play the whole game, the better,” said the Argentina coach, about the plans for the ’10’ in the run-up to the duel to be played in Landover (United States).
The Inter Miami player played 40 minutes in Sunday’s 1-0 draw against Ecuador, in another friendly match, played in Chicago.
“We expect from him (Messi) the same as always, that he plays football, that he associates with his teammates, and that he is comfortable on the field, that he is comfortable with the team,” Scaloni added.
The coach highlighted that Canada, Argentina’s first rival in the Copa América “is a good team, a good rival, it is important, that not only has it played in a World Cup, but also has high-level players. We will start thinking about them from Saturday.”
Scaloni, who must announce the final squad for the Copa América on Saturday, said that about midfielder Guido Rodríguez and defender Germán Pezzella, who had physical problems and were in doubt.
“We will try to give them minutes and see how they respond. Training is one thing and the game is another thing. “If they are fine, they would be on the list,” she said.
“This match is going to be the last test to finish defining the list. We have it quite clear, seeing how this week’s training went. They have responded quite well,” he explained.
The coach responded to questions about Ángel Di María, the winger who will say goodbye to the Argentine team in the Copa América.
“We are not going to talk about what is going to happen. We are thinking about when he is not there and (the reality is that) he is playing, there are games ahead, the important thing is that Ángel is happy here.”
In the Copa América (June 20 to July 14) the world champion in Qatar is part of Group A along with Peru, Chile and Canada.
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THE NATION
