Argentina received a significant boost ahead of their Copa America semi-final against Canada as head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that captain Lionel Messi is fit to play despite earlier concerns about a hamstring injury. Messi missed Argentina’s final group stage match due to a thigh complaint but returned to play 90 minutes in their quarter-final victory against Ecuador, which ended in a 1-1 draw and went to penalties, where Messi made headlines after missing his spot kick.
“99 percent 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: if he’s fine, he plays, and if he’s not fine, he plays the last 30 minutes. It’s that easy,” Scaloni said in a pre-match press conference, as reported by Goal.com.
Scaloni emphasized Messi’s importance to the team, acknowledging that even when not fully fit, Messi’s presence and impact are undeniable.
“When he’s fit, he always plays. There are no doubts. Who would have any doubts? I’m the coach, so I have no doubts. I’m the one who decides, and when I see that he’s fit to play, even if he’s not 100 percent fit, he’s going to play. I take responsibility for that, but I have no doubts. It’s true that that won’t ever weigh on me. I know what he can give us even if he’s not in optimal condition, and I wouldn’t make the mistake of not putting him on the pitch knowing that he gives us a lot,” Scaloni added.
Argentina remains unbeaten in the tournament and is just two games away from defending their title. They will face Canada on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium, aiming to reach their fourth final in five tournaments.
