Scaloni Confirms Messi's Fitness For Copa America Semi-Final Clash With Canada

Lionel Scaloni remains confident about Lionel Messi's fitness for the Copa America semi-final against Canada, despite injury concerns. Messi suffered a hamstring injury during their second group match against Chile, which led to his absence in the subsequent game against Peru. However, he made a comeback in the quarter-final against Ecuador, where he missed the first penalty in the shootout that Argentina won thanks to Emiliano Martinez's saves.

Scaloni has dismissed any doubts regarding Messi's readiness. "99% of the time, [Messi] is fit to play," Scaloni stated. "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." Scaloni emphasised that if Messi is fine, he plays; if not, he will still play for at least 30 minutes.

Messi himself admitted training with caution before his return from injury against Ecuador. Despite this, Scaloni is unwavering in his decision to field Messi. "I know what he can give us even if he's not in optimal condition," Scaloni said. "I wouldn't make the grave mistake of not putting him on the pitch knowing that he gives us a lot."

Argentina began their Copa America title defence with a 2-0 win over Canada on June 20. Scaloni acknowledged the advantage of having faced Canada before but noted that Jesse Marsch would likely adopt a different strategy for the semi-final. "Canada has players who are physically strong and also technically good," Scaloni mentioned. "They have made things difficult for all teams."

Scaloni highlighted Canada's aggressive playing style under Marsch and recognised the challenge of matching them physically. However, he expressed confidence in Argentina's assets and their ability to control the game. "We hope to play the game on our side," he added.

The coach also discussed tactical adjustments and learning from past encounters. "All coaches take notes to correct mistakes and hurt our opponents," Scaloni explained. "Each coach will have to do something different."

Final Preparations

#SeleccinMayor Entrenamiento final de cara a la semifinal de la @CopaAmerica 2024. Vamos por otro pasito ms, @Argentina! #OtraVezJuntos pic.twitter.com/HsPAzMNAzM

— Seleccin Argentina (@Argentina) July 9, 2024

As Argentina prepares for their crucial match against Canada, they aim to maintain possession and disrupt Canada's game plan. The team's focus is on leveraging their strengths while adapting strategies based on previous experiences.

The upcoming semi-final promises an intense battle as both teams strive for a place in the final. With Messi expected to play a pivotal role despite his recent injury scare, Argentina remains optimistic about their chances.