Scaloni confirms Messi ready for Copa America semi-final

• Lionel Messi cleared to play in Copa America semi-final.
• Both teams’ coaches plan new strategies for the rematch.
• Argentina wary of Canada’s physicality and aggressive style.

Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has assured fans that the team’s leading player, Lionel Messi, will be ready to participate in the upcoming Copa America semi-final against Canada, set to take place in New Jersey on Tuesday.

This update is particularly noteworthy given the recent worries about Messi’s hamstring issue.

Messi made a comeback during Argentina’s quarter-final victory over Ecuador, having sat out the last match of the group stage due to his injury. Despite playing through the entire match, his physical condition seemed compromised.

Messi, who is 37 and plays for Inter Miami, was unable to score in the penalty shootout that ultimately determined the outcome of the match at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

“Leo (Messi) is fine, he finished well, so tomorrow he will be part of the match, we are calm,” Scaloni stated in a press conference on Monday before the semi-final game at MetLife Stadium. “His level looks good. He is essential for us.”

The upcoming match will mark the second encounter between Argentina and Canada in this tournament, following their initial Group A game where Argentina, the reigning champions, secured a 2-0 victory over the CONCACAF team.

Scaloni mentioned that in this rematch, both he and Jesse Marsch, the coach of Canada, plan to implement “something different”.

“All coaches take notes to correct mistakes and hurt our opponents,” said the Argentine coach, who is 46 years old. “Each coach will have to do something different. We will try to have the ball and stop them from playing their game.”

He also noted that Argentina intends to address Canada’s robust and assertive style of play, especially after Canada’s recent success in the penalty shootout against Venezuela.

“Canada has players who are physically strong and also technically good, with a coach who has conveyed an aggressive way of playing,” Scaloni observed.

“They have made things difficult for all teams. Physically it’s difficult to match them, but with our assets we hope to play the game on our side.”

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