Mr. Scaloni has achieved significant success as coach of La Albiceleste, leading them to win the Copa America and FIFA World Cup in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Currently, Coach Scaloni has set his sights on winning more. a big trophy in South America, when the 48th Copa America is about to be held in the US this summer.
Argentina is preparing very seriously for the major South American tournament, after defeating El Salvador and Costa Rica in recent friendly matches. Even without Messi due to injury, the world champions scored six goals in both matches and conceded only once.
It was also the absence of star captain Messi that helped young Manchester United player Alejandro Garnacho make his first appearance for the national team. PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Walter Benitez also has the opportunity to replace goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the match against Costa Rica.
Even though players who haven’t had much experience like Garnacho and Benitez are trying to get a spot in the Copa America squad, young coach Scaloni is still very strict in choosing the main starter. The Argentine coach affirmed that only superstar Messi and veteran Di Maria are certain to have a chance to go to the US, the rest must compete fairly.
Scaloni told GOAL: “Benitez can only be the second goalkeeper. Not only him, in the world of football nothing is certain. Benitez was given a big opportunity to prove himself. But I’m not sure. I can’t guarantee any of the players here a starting spot in the squad. I can only guarantee a spot for a player you all know very well, Messi. Captain Messi, I’m trying to choose. Oh, I think there’s also Di Maria. He’s also guaranteed to play.”
La Albiceleste will face Canada, Chile and Peru in Group A of Copa America 2024. Fans of the Tango team are looking forward to their superstar, Lionel Messi, once again winning glory with his teammates before the match. he retired. It comes from a time when Messi expressed his intention to hang up his shoes if he won the world championship.
Messi’s last appearance on the football field was in Inter Miami’s 3-1 victory over Nashville in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round of 16 on March 14. Messi scored once and assisted once, but had to leave the field due to injury in the second half.
Star Messi has not appeared again for the US team since then. He missed Inter Miami’s Major League Soccer matches against DC United and New York Red Bulls while recovering from injury.
Messi can return in the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final first leg against Monterrey on April 3. It is for this reason that the player with the genius left foot did not play in Argentina’s friendly matches during the international break. La Albiceleste hopes Messi will fully recover when Copa America kicks off in June.
