Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said staff had worked separately with the 34-year-old Messi to prepare him for match against Uruguay and next TuesdayтАЩs game at home to Brazil.
ArgentinaтАЩs Lionel Messi has recovered from the knee and hamstring worries that kept him out of Paris St GermainтАЩs last two games and is in line to start in their World Cup qualifier against Uruguay on Friday.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said staff had worked separately with the 34-year-old Messi to prepare him for the mouth-watering double header against Uruguay in Montevideo and next TuesdayтАЩs game at home to Brazil.
тАЬIn principle, we believe that Leo is good,тАЭ Scaloni told reporters. тАЬLeo wants to play and I want him to play.тАЭ
MessiтАЩs call up caused some unhappiness with PSG general manager Leonardo but Scaloni sought to play down any rift.
тАЬWe have a relationship with Leonardo and their (reaction) is understandable, that Messi has spent a lot of time with the national team recently,тАЭ Scaloni said.
тАЬBut there can be no doubt that we are within the rules calling him up. This has always been a problem for European clubs.тАЭ
Argentina are second in South AmericaтАЩs 10-team qualifying group, six points behind Brazil after 11 games.
The top four qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional playoff.
Winners of the Copa America in July, Argentina are unbeaten in 25 games, a run that stretches back to mid 2019.
This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.
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