Injury concerns are looming large within the Argentina national camp as their talisman, Lionel Messi, faces the possibility of missing the crucial World Cup qualifier match against Bolivia on Tuesday, September 12.
Lionel Messi, who is now playing in the MLS for Inter Miami, was replaced in the 89th minute of Argentina’s thrilling 1-0 victory over Ecuador. The decision raised questions about the star’s fitness.
Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina, later acknowledged that Messi had “felt something” during the game and had personally asked for removal from the field.
🚨 Lionel Scaloni: “Messi is going to travel to Bolivia. Today he trained differently, but there are still 2 days left until the game and we will make the decision tomorrow whether he plays or not. The team is going to be similar to the one that played against Ecuador.“ pic.twitter.com/P2v0Y5gJkq
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) September 10, 2023
Messi underwent a battery of preventative medical exams after leaving the Ecuador match early. The star underwent these examinations at the IMAXE medical facility to ensure his health and rule out any underlying conditions that might have contributed to his discomfort during the match.
(🌕) Confirmed: Lionel Messi is traveling to La Paz to play against Bolivia. @gastonedul 🚨🇧🇴 pic.twitter.com/IjR7NrE8ou
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) September 10, 2023
The kind of red-hot form that Lionel Messi is in, which saw him score the game’s lone goal against Ecuador to give his team an important victory. Everyone wants to know if Lionel Messi will participate in the crucial World Cup qualifier against Bolivia.
However, Messi could play in the match, according to coach Lionel Scaloni, who also stated that a final decision would be made on Monday. The coaching staff has closely monitored Messi’s participation in practice leading up to the game, and they will assess his health before deciding whether or not he will start.
Lionel Scaloni reveals plans for Argentina’s starting lineup ahead of Bolivia clash
In advance of the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, Argentina’s national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, has provided fans with a sneak peek into his tactical planning. Scaloni acknowledged his team’s performance in their most recent 1-0 victory over Ecuador, but he also made a “2-3” lineup change implication, which has fans and pundits on edge.
The starting lineup for Argentina’s game against Ecuador included some well-known players, including Molina, Romero, Otamendi, and Tagliafico on defense, with Emiliano Martinez manning the goal.
🚨 Lionel Scaloni: “The starting lineup will be similar to the one we played against Ecuador, we are happy with the performance, but there could be some [2-3] changes in it.” 🎙️
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) September 10, 2023
Enzo Fernandez of Chelsea, Alexis Mac Allister, a recent addition to Liverpool, and Rodrigo de Paul made up the heart of the midfield.
Up front, the formidable trio of Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez, and Nicolas González aimed to create magic on the field. However, it is the fitness of their talisman, Lionel Messi, that has raised concerns within the Argentina camp.
In addition to Messi’s circumstance, Lionel Scaloni, the head coach, may opt to give a break to Lautaro Martinez, the Inter Milan captain. Reports suggest that Scaloni may decide to rotate his team, with Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez as a potential replacement for Martinez.
Although Scaloni praised the team’s performance against Ecuador, he remains devoted to making tactical changes to enhance their chances of winning the challenging qualifying campaign.
Discussion about this post