Messi makes return as Argentina edge past Ecuador in Copa América warm-up | Argentina

[ad_1]

ArgentinaAngel Di María scores in 1-0 victoryMessi plays first international match in six months Associated Press

Mon 10 Jun 2024 13.27 CEST

Ángel Di María scored as Lionel Messi returned to the international stage for the first time in six months, helping Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Ecuador in a Copa América warm-up match on Sunday night.

Messi was on the bench for the first half before replacing Di María in the 56th minute. A hamstring injury had kept the Inter Miami star from participating in Argentina’s previous two Copa América warm-up games against El Salvador and Costa Rica in March.

“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,” Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said of his decision to sit Messi for the first half.

‘Everybody could look in the mirror’: Colombia humiliate USMNT in Copa warm-up With Messi watching from the bench, Di María sent a reverse pass from Christian Romero into the net to open the scoring in the 40th minute.

“It helps to play against a rival like that, especially because Ecuador plays at a high level, they make it difficult for anyone,” Scaloni said. “And we needed to get together, compete, add minutes and feel the sensation of putting on the shirt before a Cup that is going to be difficult.”

It was Di María’s second consecutive goal in an international match. He also scored against Costa Rica on 26 March. With the 31st goal of his Argentina career, the 36-year-old midfielder is tied with Gonzalo Higuaín for the fifth-most goals in the country’s history and sits just four scores behind Diego Maradona at No 4 on the leaderboard.

Liverpool chairman determined to see Premier League games played in USA Argentina – the reigning World Cup and Copa América champions – are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with Ecuador, a streak dating back to 2019.

“The goal is to continue competing, and these guys have competing in their blood,” Scaloni said. “Sometimes it turns out well and other times it doesn’t turn out well. But you have to keep playing. There are always things to play for. Now the Copa América, then the qualifiers. Our goal is always to compete at our best.”

{{/paragraphs}}{{highlightedText}} {{#choiceCards}} One-timeMonthlyAnnual

Other

{{/choiceCards}}We will be in touch to remind you to contribute. Look out for a message in your inbox in . If you have any questions about contributing, please contact us. [ad_1]

Source link : https://amp.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jun/10/lionel-messi-return-argentina-injury-ecuador-copa-america-warm-up Author : Publish date : 2024-06-10 07:27:00 Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source .

December 2025
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Messi makes return as Argentina edge past Ecuador in Copa América warm-up | Argentina

Ice-age killers! Using stunning CGI, a new show brings back to life the fearsome predators of 20,000 years ago

Why You Dont Need To Fear Travel Greenwashing Here

Why You Dont Need To Fear Travel Greenwashing Here

Peak Re Launches Thrilling New Venture in North America!

Bolivia’s Political Landscape Transforms: Centrist Candidate Surges as Voters Turn Away from Socialism

Bolsonaro’s Conviction: What It Means for U.S.-Brazil Relations

Turks & Caicos Islands Triumph Over British Virgin Islands in Epic Rugby Clash!

Mark Carney’s Vision: The Bold Journey to Achieve Canada’s $1 Trillion Investment Dream

Unexpected Detour: American Airlines Flight Diverts to Cayman Islands, Sparking Air Travel Resilience Debate

Uncover the 7 Incredible Penguin Hotspots You Can’t Miss in Chile!

Unveiling Colombia’s Thrilling New Lacoste Concept Store!

Discovering Central America: Secretary Rubio’s Adventure Across Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic

U.S. Steps Up to Aid Cuba After Catastrophic Hurricane Destruction

Categories

Archives