"Messi trained on the sidelines, we will decide on Tuesday if he will play"

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Sunday that captain Lionel Messi will travel with the rest of the squad to La Paz to face Bolivia, but his presence in the starting line-up is in doubt.

"He is going to travel. He trained on the sidelines. There are still two days to go before the match. We'll make the decision on Tuesday. We are ready to face the match in the best conditions", the coach assured at the press conference.

Messi had to undergo medical tests on Saturday to rule out any kind of injury after he asked for a substitution and after scoring the winning goal in the 1-0 win over Ecuador on Thursday, although there was no official statement on the possible ailment of Argentina's top scorer, Scaloni said that "he is fit".

"Both (Messi and Cuti Romero) are fit enough to face the game. We'll see if they will start, play later or not play at all. They only trained on the sidelines because of the typical precautions," explained the 'Albiceleste' coach, who remarked: "If he's well, he'll play".

 

September 10, 2023