Buenos Aires, November 145 (BNA): Lionel Messi will play for the Argentina national team when his team faces Brazil in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Monday that Messi, who has been upset with a knee injury, will play in San Juan in a match that could give the team a place in next year’s World Cup.
Messi played just 15 minutes in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Uruguay on Friday. He also missed two matches for Paris Saint-Germain due to injury.
The Argentines, who are second in the South American 10-team standings after Brazil, can qualify with a victory. Brazil has already won one of four automatic qualification centers from the region.
Brazil have not won against Argentina since 2009. Scaloni’s main doubt in the match is midfield. Leonardo Paredes is recovering from an injury and could be replaced by Guido Rodriguez once again.
Brazil will be absent from the suspended Casemiro, who may be replaced by Fabinho. Brazil coach Tite also expects to test other players, possibly using Matthews Cunha up front instead of Gabriel Jesus.
In September, playoffs between the two teams were suspended after seven minutes of play due to COVID-19 protocols. FIFA has yet to announce what it will do with this match.
insult