Scaloni Prioritizes Messi’s and Other Players’ Health for Argentina’s Friendlies
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni has made it clear that he will not risk the physical integrity of Lionel Messi or any other player who is not in optimal condition for the upcoming international friendly matches. The priority is the health of the players. The Albiceleste will face Venezuela on Friday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, followed by a match against Puerto Rico in Chicago on October 13. Messi, after a busy schedule with Inter Miami, joined the national team on Monday.“We will make a decision, we will see how he (Messi) and the rest of the players are,” Scaloni said.
Lionel Scaloni
In this MLS season, Messi has scored 24 goals and provided 17 assists. He participated in Argentina’s first training session on Tuesday afternoon at Inter Miami’s facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Scaloni also commented that the next matches will serve to test new players for the World Cup next year.“We are going to talk to him (Messi) and the others,” Scaloni declared. “The idea is not to risk anyone. They are important matches for the national team, but they are friendlies. Whoever has a minor problem, whether it’s him or someone else, we are not going to take any risks.”
Lionel Scaloni
“Naturally, we are going to try to give new players a chance, to see if they can join,” he indicated. “That’s the idea: to use these matches to try out different players. We feel that every time there is an international match, whether official or friendly, it provides a unique opportunity”.
Lionel Scaloni
