USA – Coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that only Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria will definitely have a performance, the rest will have to compete to recruit Argentina for the 2024 Copa America.
“In the world of football, no one can predict anything,” Scaloni said after the friendly match against Costa Rica 3-1 in Los Angeles, USA. “No one wearing the Argentina shirt today is guaranteed to play in Copa America 2024. But there is only one person who is not here, Lionel Messi is certain. Di Maria is also guaranteed that. The rest must continue Keep fighting, you have to sweat.”
Argentina won all two friendly matches in March 2024, despite missing captain Messi due to injury. The defending World Cup champions defeated El Salvador 3-0 and Costa Rica 3-1.
In a friendly match in Los Angeles, California on March 26, Costa Rica suddenly took the lead thanks to Manfred Ugalde’s rebound in the 34th minute. In the second half, Di Maria, Alexis Mac Allister and Lautaro Martinez scored to help Argentina. reverse win.
“We are satisfied with the tour as well as the way the matches took place. Both matches showed that there are no easy opponents,” Scaloni analyzed. “Against Costa Rica, we were behind, had difficulties but reacted and had 20, 25 good minutes in the second half. I’m pleased that the team will have more matches like this and today’s result helps.” so many”.
Argentina currently has many options in the midfield with Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, Giovani Lo Celso, Rodrigo De Paul or Leandro Paredes. Scaloni said the team is still missing Exequiel Palacios and Guido Rodriguez, while Thiago Almada joins the U23 team. The 45-year-old coach emphasized that Argentina has an even midfield, if one person falls, there will be someone else ready to replace him, and he always chooses the players who are in the best form.
Against Costa Rica, Alejandro Garnacho started for the first time, while Walter Benitez and Valentín Carboni played for Argentina for the first time. Scaloni assessed that this trio all played well, despite the great pressure of playing for the national team.
At Copa America 2024, Argentina is in the same group as Canada, Chile and Peru. Messi is expected to be fit for this tournament. He may even return to play as early as April 2024, with Inter Miami facing Monterrey in the quarterfinals of the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup – a tournament considered the North Central C1 Cup. America.
Messi has won every trophy possible in top club football, including four Champions Leagues, 10 La Ligas, two Ligue 1s and two trebles. At the team level, he won the 2022 World Cup, 2021 Copa America, 2022 Intercontinental Super Cup, 2005 U20 World Cup and 2008 Olympic gold medal. Messi holds the record of winning 44 team titles.
Personally, Messi also holds the record of winning eight Golden Balls, six European Golden Shoes and two World Cup Golden Balls. He is the only player to win the Golden Ball in three different decades and win four consecutive Golden Balls.
From 2023, Messi leaves Europe for the US to play for Inter Miami. After helping his new team win the Leagues Cup in his first season, he is aiming for MLS, CONCACAF Champions Cup and America’s Cup this season.
