09/01/2021 12:36 PM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 09/01/2021 12:57 PM
The squad of the Argentine National Team met again in Caracas, where this Thursday it will begin its triple adventure in the South American Qualifiers against Venezuela and which will continue in Brazil, to face the local on Sunday, and will end in Argentina next Thursday against Bolivia.
Before the start of the triple date, Lionel Scaloni, coach of the national team, said at a press conference that the team has not yet been confirmed but indicated that Lionel Messi "will be from the game."
"We have spoken with the majority to see their status but it is not defined.
Logically, not much will change from the last game, from the final of the Copa América
. We will continue that line," he started.
Asked if Messi will play, who came from a long inactivity and has just made his debut at Paris Saint Germain, he said: "If he is in physical condition, he will be from the game. I spoke with him and he is fine, without the minutes he had been having. You know what my thinking is about him.
Hopefully he will play all three games if he is fit
. "
"It is a delicate moment. There are three games in a few days and you have to manage the forces. Also take into account the issue of the yellow cards. Based on what happens with Venezuela, with eventual penalties or charges, we will see what will happen in the next game. In principle, we will do our best, "he added about the rest of the team.
Likewise, Scaloni referred to the initial refusal of the European leagues to assign players for this FIFA date and stressed "the predisposition" of the footballers "for wanting to be there." "It is a step forward that this Selection took. With regard to the clubs, we have never had a refusal. We talked and came to the conclusion that they had to come," he said. And he emphasized: "Since I have been part of the National Teams I have always seen the same predisposition.
If there is something that characterizes the Argentine player, it is wanting to be in the National Team
."
The National Team has just won the Copa América in Brazil a little over a month ago and that is why Scaloni believes that "now a new challenge begins."
"
All the teams will want to beat the champion
. We need to get points and have a good Eliminatory," he said.
"We were champions a very short time ago and now we have to catch up again. If we had not become champions we would also have to continue competing. This is a wheel and the only thing that matters is to give everything," he continued.
According to him, the accumulated time during that competition helped "to make the training secondary" and that the final result allowed "to give joy to the people who have needed it for so long."
"Having been in the Cup for so long helped us. Now we have to face a very difficult opponent. Venezuela has high-level players," he added.
Look also
Nico Tagliafico celebrated his birthday with the National Team
Lionel Scaloni diagrams the eleven of the National Team against Venezuela with a key question: Does Messi play?