Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has expressed his optimism regarding having star player Lionel Messi back for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in October. The 37-year-old Messi has been out of action since sustaining a right ankle injury during the Copa América final against Colombia on July 14. However, as he recently returned to training with Inter Miami, there is a possibility that he might make an appearance in Saturday’s MLS game against Philadelphia.
Despite Messi’s absence, Argentina managed to secure a convincing 3-0 victory over Chile, further solidifying their position at the top of the qualifying group. The team currently holds a four-point lead over Uruguay as they prepare for their next qualifier against Colombia in Barranquilla. Scaloni commended the team for their response in Messi’s absence, emphasizing the importance of having a cohesive game plan regardless of individual players.
Scaloni acknowledged the challenge of not being overly reliant on Messi’s presence on the field. While recognizing Messi’s unparalleled talent and influence on the team, Scaloni emphasized the need for the squad to adapt and execute their game plan effectively even in Messi’s absence. The coach highlighted the team’s collective effort and unity in striving to maintain their performance standards despite missing Messi’s decisive touch.
As Argentina prepares for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers, Scaloni mentioned that they will closely monitor Messi’s progress and assess his availability for the squad selection in October. The coach stressed the importance of maintaining communication with Messi and evaluating his readiness to return to international duty. Scaloni remains hopeful that Messi will make a successful comeback and contribute to the team’s success in the qualifiers.
Lionel Scaloni’s comments reflect a pragmatic approach to handling Lionel Messi’s potential return for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. While Messi’s absence poses a significant challenge, Scaloni’s focus on maintaining team unity and adaptability bodes well for Argentina’s prospects in the qualifiers. As the team navigates through the remainder of the qualifying campaign, the return of Messi could provide a significant boost to their aspirations of securing a spot in the World Cup.