Copa America 2024: Argentina coach gives Messi injury update ahead of Canada clash

Forum 4 weeks ago

Copa America 2024: Argentina coach gives Messi injury update ahead of Canada clash

Argentina head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has insisted Lionel Messi will be fit for their Copa America semi-final against Canada.

Scaloni, speaking to reporters said there is “no doubt” about Messi’s availability.

According to him, he will always pick the 37-year-old, even when not quite fully fit.

Messi was an injury doubt for the quarter-final clash against Ecuador due to a thigh injury.

But he was able to play 90 minutes in the game, although he missed a penalty during the shoot-out to decide the game.

Scaloni said: “99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play. It’s never happened to me that he’s not fit to play. Every time he’s come out on the pitch, he’s fit to play.

“For [Canada], he’s fit to play, without a doubt. It’s a very easy decision for me, because it’s a very frank decision, that if he’s fine, he plays; and if he’s not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It’s that easy.

“When he’s fit, he always plays. There are no doubts.”