Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni mentioned Lionel Messi‘s standing for its Copa América quarterfinal in opposition to Ecuador on Thursday is unclear, with the lineup to be decided after the night coaching session.
“We’ll practice in a pair hours, after which we’ll determine. Another day is all the time higher, yesterday we had good sensations and at this time we’ll determine. Based mostly on at this time’s reply, we’ll determine if Messi performs,” he mentioned within the match day -1 press convention.
Messi didn’t play in Argentina’s last group stage match — a 2-0 win over Peru on June 29 — as a consequence of a proper leg harm sustained in its 1-0 defeat of Chile. His standing was described as “day after day” earlier than returning to coaching earlier this week.
Scaloni expects to have a person dialog with Messi after the final session earlier than the match to additional perceive his bodily standing.
“I have not spoken with him concerning the scenario, I’ll speak to him at this time given it is match day -1,” Scaloni mentioned. “I assumed it was truthful that he took his time and practice as a lot as doable. After speaking, we’ll determine. I have not talked to him, so we do not know if he’ll play.”
Although Scaloni shouldn’t be certain how his workforce will line up in opposition to Ecuador, he maintained the choice to begin sure offensive gamers over others is not going to be impacted by the presence of Messi.
“It is by no means been that approach. It alters when Leo would not play, it alters everybody, not simply me,” Scaloni mentioned. “We’ll strive for him to be there, and if not we’ll discover the most effective for the workforce. He is recreation by recreation, and the workforce will conform to the rival.”
Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez beforehand performed collectively when the workforce confronted Ecuador in a pre-Copa America pleasant on June 9, main the best way in a 1-0 win as Messi watched from the bench.
Scaloni warned in opposition to overanalyzing that pleasant forward of the knockout match tomorrow, saying “each recreation has its personal story.”
“They’ve performed collectively in opposition to this rival, and we’ll determine after at this time’s coaching,” Scaloni mentioned. “They’ve labored nicely, and it is an possibility. However we’ll see how everyone seems to be at this time, particularly Leo, and we’ll see.
“That recreation has nothing to do with [the friendly result]. It is a fully completely different recreation, with completely different gamers I think about. However each recreation has its personal story. We analyzed and watched the sport, however we expect it’s going to be completely different. No recreation is similar, however we’ll play in a similar way.”
Nonetheless, Ecuador supervisor Félix Sánchez mentioned his workforce studied the June 9 recreation, in addition to different matches in opposition to Argentina when making ready for the quarterfinal.
“We all know the workforce we face is of most degree, Messi is a differential participant, the one which marks probably the most distinction at this time,” Sánchez mentioned. “However Argentina’s recreation mannequin would not change a lot with or with out him. They have been with Scaloni for some time and developed a signature taking part in model with and with out Messi on the sphere.
“We can’t repeat the sport we had in opposition to [Argentina] in Chicago. We’ve analyzed that recreation, and all we have confronted in opposition to them.”
The 2 sides will face off at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, on Thursday, with the winner advancing to the semifinal at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 9.