Scaloni eases fears over Messi injury ahead of World Cup

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has sought to calm fears over skipper Lionel Messi’s fitness ahead of the World Cup, saying the first signs surrounding the captain’s injury “are not so bad.”

With less than three weeks to go before the start of the tournament, the 38-year-old superstar sparked concern after limping off during Inter Miami’s MLS match with Philadelphia Union on Sunday.

The Florida-based club confirmed on Monday that Messi had suffered a left hamstring “muscle fatigue overload,” adding that the timeframe for his return would depend on his “clinical and functional evolution.”

“The first news is not so bad,” Scaloni said in an interview broadcast Tuesday on DSports. “Naturally, we would rather nothing had happened, but now we have to wait and see how he progresses.”

Messi, who has yet to comment publicly on the issue, walked off the pitch in the 73rd minute against Philadelphia after clutching the back of his left thigh during what was his final MLS match before the World Cup break.

The reaction inside the stadium was one of shock and concern, given the possibility the injury could affect what may be the final major international tournament of the Argentine icon’s career.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner turns 39 on June 25, during the group stage, and is set to appear at his sixth World Cup – a record he could share with Cristiano Ronaldo and Guillermo Ochoa.

Scaloni admitted, however, that Messi is not the only fitness concern for the reigning world champions.

“Most of the players who had problems are not fully recovered yet and our goal is for everyone to arrive in the best possible condition,” the coach said.

Among those carrying injuries are Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero, who is expected to arrive short of match fitness after a strain to the collateral ligament in his right knee, as well as full-backs Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel, both sidelined recently with muscle tears.

Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, in a Group J that also includes Jordan and Austria.

Before then, the Albiceleste will play warm-up friendlies against Honduras in Texas on June 6 and Iceland in Alabama three days later.

Scaloni revealed he plans to call up more than 30 players for those friendlies, allowing extra cover in case “something happens” to any of the final 26-man World Cup squad.

The Argentina coach has until June 1 to submit his final squad list for the tournament and will include several promising young talents in his travelling party.

Hamburg SV midfielder Nicolás Capaldo is among those selected, as is young Boca Juniors star Tomás Aranda, who will join the national squad for the first time. Nineteen-year-old River Plate forward Joaquín Freitas has also been rewarded for his breakthrough season in the top flight, as has his teammate goalkepeer Santiago Beltrán, who had already been named on Scaloni's preliminary shortlist. 

Scaloni has also decided to reward the performances of two other domestic talents: Ignacio Ovando, the lively winger from Rosario Central, and Simón Escobar, the driving force in Vélez Sarsfield’s midfield.

– TIMES/AFP/PERFIL