Lionel Scalonicoach of the Argentine National Teamthe friendly match this Friday against Guatemalain Maryland, Washington DC, the last preview of the world champions in the preview of the United States Copa América.
From the outset, the coach who will seek to defend the title won in 2021, when he beat Brazil in the final at the Maracaná, confirmed the ownership of Lionel Messiwhile the majority of their answers revolved around the continental competition that the Albiceleste will face and the list of 26 footballers that Scaloni will have to give in the next few hours.
Messi, starter against Guatemala
“Leo is going to play from the start. The other day it was stipulated that he play a few minutes, and we had already talked about him playing. Based on how he is, we will see the amount. If he can play everything, the better.”
The list of 26 for the Copa América
“Tomorrow’s game is going to be the last test to finish defining. We have it quite clear, seeing how the training sessions went this week and the previous one. They have responded quite well. We take tomorrow’s game because logically anything can happen “And if the guys are available, it seems logical to us to have them here and make the decision after the game.”
When will you communicate who is left off the payroll?
“We will look for the moment. I’m not going to tell you now when because I don’t know when I’m going to say it. Because it’s important to know how the players end up. It’s important to know that a player can end up with discomfort and maybe the doctor will tell you ‘ Look, let’s see how he wakes up tomorrow.’ Or maybe not. Maybe, after the game everything is calm, and I’m of the idea of when we have the decision made and if everything is okay to communicate it facing it head-on as we always have. done and with deep pain always, because whoever is there and whoever is left out surely deserves it, deserves to be, but alone, alone and thank God there are 26 that before there were 23, so we will see tomorrow”
How Germán Pezzellla and Guido Rodríguez responded physically
“They responded well and it is evident that they are kids that have been given to us. But the important thing is that they are well. Tomorrow we will see. We will try to give them minutes and see how they respond. Because I think it is important, training is one thing and training is another. “It’s the game itself. And we’ll see how many minutes the guys we want to see are on the field, not just them, to see how they respond. In principle, if they’re fine, they would be, yes.”
The physical state of Enzo Fernández and Nahuel Molina
“Enzo and Nahuel trained normally, they are fine. Enzo played a few minutes the other day, Nahuel we decided that he should take a few more days, because he was coming off a major injury. And they are fine, physically available. They probably lack minutes, the idea of Tomorrow is to give it to them. We don’t know how much, but let them play.”
Who will be the 9 of the National Team: Lautaro Martínez or Julián Álvarez?
“The decision of who plays, as we have always done, thinking about what is best for the National Team, sometimes we will be right, other times we will be wrong, but always thinking about what we believe is best for the National Team. The important thing is that both “They are fine, they even played together the other day, and they worked well. For us it is a good test. We don’t rule out anything, and most of the time one will play, but you never know.”
The future of Ángel Di María
“No, I’m not going to start talking to him about what’s going to happen. He has to enjoy playing. We are, I always say it, we’re thinking when he’s not there… He’s playing, I’m not going to start talking Now with him when he’s not there, he has to play. There are games ahead and he’s happy here, and it’s not appropriate for him to talk about that.”
The reason why he faces Guatemala
“In principle, we have been told by the rivals that we were dealt, most of the time we do not choose. And I always say that the rival that comes is always going to make things difficult for us and we have to face the game with maximum seriousness. We do not have problem in playing with whoever. We have never chosen the rivals, that is the reality”
Messi and Di María together?
“The reality is that a team is a team. And we have never thought of putting together a team based on whether one presses or not. We have always planned the games that we have planned thinking about how to hurt the rival and from there onwards how we have to defend. Each one has their characteristics, it is normal, but I think it is important for us to adapt to what we have, how our teammates are. Each one adapts to what is on the field, which, on the other hand. It is not easy because it is not the same to play with three forwards, with two forwards or with five midfielders, it is not the same, but we adapt to what we have. It will always be based on the rival. Sometimes not, but always based on the game we thought we had to play, regardless of the injuries they may have had. So, the decision always depends on how we want to approach the game. From there, we then leave. as they say, accommodating the party”
The reception of the Argentine National Team, in Washington and in every place
“It’s nice, we have been saying it since the World Cup happened. It is a satisfaction and a source of pride that not only Argentine people are identified with the National Team and are grateful, always grateful to them. We would like, as always, to be there, take photos and sometimes you can’t, because the reality is due to a security issue and for a lot of reasons, but we are grateful to them and we hope that tomorrow they see a good game.”
The debut in the Copa América against Canada
“Canada is the next game, we will think more deeply starting on Saturday, although we have seen things. But they are a good team, one of the good and important ones. Not only did they play in a World Cup, but they have high-level players”
News in development…
