Argentina gaffer Lionel Scaloni provided an update on captain and influential player Lionel Messi ahead of his team’s Copa América 2024 semi-final clash with Canada on Tuesday.
It was suggested that there was a hamstring concern for Messi, with the 37-year-old likely to miss the game at MetLife Stadium.
The Inter Miami forward returned to action this past Thursday in the quarter-final affair with Ecuador – after missing the final group stage game due to injury – but did not look physically convincing with regards to his fitness.
Messi also missed a penalty in the shootout victory at Houston’s NRG Stadium.
However, Scaloni has provided goodnews as he declared his World Cup-winning skipper fit for the last four battle.
“Leo [Messi] is fine, he finished well, so tomorrow he will be part of the match, we are calm,” the 46-year-old manager said in a press conference on Monday.
“His level looks good. He is essential for us.”
Argentina and Canada will trade tackles for the second time in the competition after their Group A opener, where the defending champions beat the CONCACAF outfit 2-0.
Scaloni insisted that things would be different this time around as he and his opposite number Jesse Marsch will try “something different.”
“All coaches take notes to correct mistakes and hurt our opponents,” the Scaloni added.
“Each coach will have to do something different. We will try to have the ball and stop them from playing their game.”
