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Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni says that Lionel Messi’s limited game time ahead of the Copa America is a precautionary measure, stating no risks are being taken with the Inter Miami star.
Messi, 36, did not play in the first half of his nation’s 1-0 victory against Ecuador on Sunday. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has been dealing with injuries this year that forced him to sit out of Argentina’s March friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain playmaker replaced Di Maria in the 56th minute, and Scaloni has maintained that he will prioritise the safety of his players ahead of this summer’s Copa America in the United States.
“Sometimes there is no need to risk it, not only with Leo. It is about taking care of them so that they arrive in optimal conditions,” Scaloni said.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and has scored 106 goals in 181 international caps.
He has found the net 14 times and assisted on 11 occasions in 15 appearances for his club Miami this season, and will be hoping to help Argentina defend the trophy they won in 2021.
Messi has been selected in Scaloni’s provisional Argentina squad for the 2024 Copa America, which officially begins with Argentina against Canada on June 20.
Scaloni, meanwhile, has until June 12 to cut his 29-man squad down to the maximum number allowed of 26.
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(Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Source link : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5553106/2024/06/10/messi-scaloni-argentina-copa-america/
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Publish date : 2024-06-10 07:28:25
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