Kosport Magazine is gearing up for the highly anticipated Copa América tournament, with top team Argentina making headlines even before it kicks off. Manager Lionel Scaloni has announced that star player Lionel Messi’s minutes will be carefully managed during the warm-up matches, to ensure he remains healthy for the tournament.
Scaloni confirmed that Messi will likely be a substitute in Sunday’s friendly against Ecuador, with the focus on keeping him fit for the team’s debut in the Copa América. “People will be able to see Messi tomorrow. He will surely play for a while. We are going to think carefully about the minutes that each one will have to be healthy for the debut,” said Scaloni in a pre-match news conference.
This news will no doubt have fans on the edge of their seats, eager to see the Inter Miami star in action. Messi’s last appearance for Argentina was as a substitute in a 1-0 victory against Paraguay in 2023.
Scaloni also mentioned that the starting eleven for the friendly has not yet been determined, as he continues to evaluate players. It’s possible we may see Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez leading the attack, but no decisions have been made yet.
One player who may not make an appearance in Sunday’s friendly is Real Betis defender Germán Pezzella. The coach has confirmed that his fitness will continue to be assessed before making a decision on his participation in the Copa América. Pezzella was unable to train this week and will be evaluated again on Monday.
Argentina has yet to announce their final 26-man roster for the Copa América, with the team waiting until these friendlies to make their final cuts. Despite the uncertainty, Argentina is considered one of the favorites for the tournament, with Scaloni having led the team to victory in the 2021 Copa América and 2022 World Cup.
Kosport Magazine’s Take:
It’s no surprise that all eyes are on star player Lionel Messi as Argentina prepares for the Copa América. With manager Lionel Scaloni taking a cautious approach and focusing on keeping Messi healthy, we can’t wait to see what the team has in store for fans. Keep an eye out for potential starting 11 changes and updates on defender Germán Pezzella’s fitness. The final roster announcement is sure to bring even more excitement to this already highly anticipated tournament.
