Argentina’s National Football Team Prepares for Upcoming Friendlies
Argentina’s national football coach, Lionel Scaloni, has emphasized the importance of player health as the team prepares for upcoming international friendlies. The squad will face Venezuela this Friday at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium and will then travel to Chicago for a match against Puerto Rico on October 13.
Focus on Player Fitness
Scaloni made it clear that he will not jeopardize the fitness of his captain, Lionel Messi, or any other player who may not be fully fit ahead of these encounters.
At 38, Messi has had a grueling schedule with Inter Miami, participating in seven matches over a period of three weeks before joining the national team on Monday. Scaloni commented on Messi’s situation, stating:
“We will take a decision, we will see how he and the rest of the players are.”
The availability of Messi, along with teammate Rodrigo De Paul, for the friendly against Venezuela is uncertain, particularly since Inter Miami faces Atlanta United in a significant MLS regular-season game just a day prior to the national match.
Inter Miami’s Playoff Aspirations
Despite having secured a position in the playoffs for the 2025 MLS season, Inter Miami is still vying for a better standing in the Eastern Conference to gain home-field advantage during the postseason. Regarding Messi’s participation, Scaloni added:
“The idea is not to risk anyone. These are important games for the national team, but they are only friendlies. We will not take any risks for anyone with even minor issues, be it him or another player.”
Evaluating New Talent
This season, Messi has been impressive on the pitch, netting 24 goals and providing 17 assists in the MLS. His commitment continues as he joined Argentina’s training on Tuesday at the Inter Miami training ground in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Scaloni hinted that these upcoming matches would serve as an opportunity to evaluate less seasoned players in preparation for the World Cup next year, stating:
“Naturally, we will attempt to give chances to new players to see if they can get onboard. Every international match, whether it’s competitive or friendly, offers a unique opportunity to test different players.”
