Lionel Messi will be fit for Argentina World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia
Lionel Messi will be on the pitch at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday to lead Argentina in their World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia.
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After two days of uncertainty, the Albiceleste captain appeared smiling at the facilities of the University of Doha to complete Argentina’s third training session for in Qatar with his teammates.
After being the protagonist, with a goal and an assist, in the only preparation friendly against the United Arab Emirates (0-5), Messi had trained alone the last two days.
In the first session, he didn’t even appear on the grass. In the second, he barely had a few minutes to complete some exercises away from the group.
According to the medical services of the Argentine national team, the coach, Lionel Scaloni, decided not to take any risks to have his big star at full capacity in the moment of truth.
Barely a week before starting the training camp with Argentina, Messi suffered inflammation in the Achilles tendon that prevented him from lining up for PSG’s penultimate game in Ligue 1, against Lorient. It made no sense to force it
More than worrying about Messi, Scaloni has preferred to focus on choosing the player who will cover the absence of Giovani Lo Celso, who misses the Qatari appointment due to injury. And all bets point to Alexis McAllister, who already played the role in the friendly against the United Arab Emirates.
FIFA announced Sunday the referees for Group B’s openers. Argentina-Saudi Arabia will be refereed by the Slovenian Slavko Vincic. And Mexico-Poland, the Australian Chris Beath.
