As usual, in the preview of this Thursday’s match at the Mercedes Benz stadium between the Argentine National Team and Canada that kicks off the Copa América 2024 in the United States, Lionel Scaloni He spoke at a press conference and left several concepts: confirmed team, the physical condition of Lionel Messi and Enzo Fernandezthe challenge of continuing to win and more.
“The World Cup has already passed, we have to think about what’s coming“, was the forceful phrase with which Scaloni began his speech. In that sense, he highlighted that ““It is a nice challenge to defend the title.” achieved in 2021 and expressed what the challenge is facing a new tournament in which the Albiceleste team will be the best candidate to be champion: “You can win or lose, but we want people to identify with the team.“.
Scaloni, about Messi, Enzo Fernández and the formation for the debut
“I already have the team, later I will give it to the players“Confirmed the native of Pujato, who did not reveal which number 11 will be but did give indications. “For some reason I have it here next to me“He said about Leandro Paredes. Thus, it is confirmed that he will be the starter alongside Rodrigo De Paul, and Enzo Fernández? ““He’s fine, he added minutes and is ready to start tomorrow.”highlighted about the former River.
Along the same lines, he brought peace of mind by claiming that Messi “it’s very nice“, and made it clear that “Those who I see are better will play, as has always been the case.“. The possible team is with: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández or Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez and Ángel Di María.
On the other hand, Scaloni added: “We are fine, with clear ideas and the difficulty of this tournament. It will be a very difficult Copa América, as it always is. We are prepared for what is coming. The conclusions of the two games are that those who have played are doing well. “We made some tweaks and we want to improve.”
Scaloni on Canada, the first rival of the Argentine National Team
The coach downplayed the fact of having to face a team that he is not used to facing and showed respect towards the North Americans: “They have a very good team, with important players and a new coach who brought new ideas. In the last World Cup he played very good games. Anyone who thinks that everything has been said is wrong. There are the best in that country and the difficulty is maximum. They can put us in trouble and we have to be prepared”.
Finally, Scaloni took stock of his six-year cycle, which had its first competition in the 2019 Copa América. ““We have evolved, things and players have changed, but the way we approach the tournament is the same: tension, anxiety, nervousness,” said. And he closed: “Beyond the titles we have enjoyed a lot, that is the way to achieve things, but we have shown that you can do things even without winning, having a process“.
