Lionel Messi still a doubt for Ecuador quarter-final, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says

HOUSTON – Lionel Messi’s fitness remains in doubt ahead of Argentina’s Copa America quarter-final against Ecuador on July 4 (July 5, Singapore time) with coach Lionel Scaloni saying he will wait before deciding on his team.

Messi missed the defending champions’ final group stage match on June 29, a 2-0 win over Peru, after complaining of a sore right hamstring.

Scaloni said he would make any decision after their final training session.

“We’ll wait a couple of hours and make the decision. It is always better to have one more day,” he told a press conference.

“Yesterday we had good feelings and we’ll take this day to define the team based on the response we get today.”

Scaloni said he would consult with the 37-year-old Messi about his readiness for the game at the NRG Stadium in Houston.

“We’ll try to get him in and then, if he’s not (ready), we’ll look for the best solution for the team,” he said.

“I’ll talk to him today. I think it’s fair that he takes his time and trains as much as possible.”

Scaloni made nine changes against Peru as he took the chance to rotate his squad with qualification to the knockout stage already secured.

Should Messi not be ready to start against Ecuador, Scaloni could start with both Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez as twin strikers in attack.

Martinez is the Copa’s top scorer with four goals from three games, including a double against Peru, while Alvarez found the target in the opening game against Canada.

Said Scaloni: “They have already played together against this rival. We will make the decision after today’s training session.

“We are not ruling anything out because they have worked well and it is an option, it could be.

“Lautaro is doing very well, in a good moment, the same as Julian. Lautaro has not only done well, but he has waited for his chance and that makes me very happy.

“They both scored goals, let’s hope that streak continues tomorrow. We are satisfied with their contributions.”

Ecuador coach Felix Sanchez said he does not expect a radical change of approach from Argentina – with or without Messi.

“We know we are playing a high-level team, Lionel Messi is the player that makes the difference and we have played against them with him and without him on the field,” he said.

“Their game plan doesn’t change much – they are a group who have been with their coach for a long time, they know their game plan and we have had to be ready either way.”

Argentina have not lost to Ecuador since a World Cup qualifier in 2015 and have never been beaten by them in a Copa clash.

But Scaloni is wary of reading too much into the head-to-head record.

He said: “I don’t believe in statistics, they are there to be broken. Let’s hope not. Ecuador is a well-trained team, they have good players and a good coach.

“They are one of the good teams in the Copa America. They have a real chance of being able to fight for the Copa America.

“There are no games that are the same, even though we played recently.”

Ecuador’s veteran striker and captain Enner Valencia, the country’s all-time top scorer with 41 goals, certainly believes an upset is possible.

“They have a lot of experience, they’ve been working together for a long time,” said the 34-year-old.

“ They are the best players in the world but we have a young squad but with a lot of personality, respecting our opponents but wanting to win.”

Meanwhile, South American football governing body Conmebol said the referee and video assistant referee (VAR) made a mistake in not awarding Brazil a penalty during the group-stage 1-1 draw with Colombia on July 2 when defender Daniel Munoz tripped Vinicius Jr inside the box.

The play happened in the 42nd minute of the Group D match in Santa Clara, where Brazil were leading Colombia 1-0 and Vinicius ran into the box before Munoz brought him down.

Brazil players called for a penalty, but Venezuelan referee Jesus Valenzuela did not call a foul, and the VAR, led by Argentina’s Mauro Vigliano, upheld the decision after considering that Munoz had touched the ball.

“In a challenge for the ball inside the penalty area, a defender does not touch the ball,” Conmebol said in a video released on July 3.

“As a result, there is a contact that is not reasonable for the action. The referee fails to observe the action and allows play to continue.

“The VAR fails to identify that the defender did not touch the ball before recklessly contacting the Brazilian striker. Therefore, the VAR incorrectly confirms the original on-field decision.”

The mistake proved costly for Dorival Jr’s team, who needed a victory to snatch top spot in the group. AFP, REUTERS