Argentina and Canada will meet for the second time in the competition after the initial match in Gathering A
July 09, 2024
Argentina skipper Lionel Messi will be fit to play in Tuesday's Copa America semi-final against Canada in New Jersey, mentor Lionel Scaloni said, despite the forward's hamstring injury concerns.
Messi got back to activity on Thursday in Argentina's quarter-last win against Ecuador in the wake of missing the last gathering stage match due to injury. He played the whole game, yet all the same looked truly hampered.
The 37-year-old Entomb Miami player missed a penalty in the shootout that decided the game at Houston's NRG Arena.
"Leo (Messi) is fine, he completed well, so tomorrow he will be essential for the match, we are quiet," Scaloni told a public interview on Monday in front of the semi-last conflict at the MetLife Arena. "His level looks great. He is fundamental as far as we're concerned."
Argentina and Canada will meet for the second time in the competition after the initial match in Gathering A, where the reigning champions beat the CONCACAF side 2-0.
Scaloni said this time he and his Canadian partner Jesse Marsch will try to have a go at "something else".
"All mentors take notes to address mix-ups and hurt our rivals," the 46-year-old supervisor said. "Each mentor should accomplish something else. We will attempt to have the ball and prevent them from playing their game."
The Argentine manager added that his side will hope to counter the physical and forceful play of Canada, who are falling off the back of a punishment shootout prevail upon Venezuela.
"Canada has players who are serious areas of strength for genuinely likewise in fact great, with a conveyed a forceful mentor approach to playing," he said.
"They have made things hard for all groups. Truly it's hard to match them, yet with our resources we desire to play the game on our side."
