NHL Draft Round 1 Reaction: Smart And Questionable Picks, Best Remaining Prospects
June 28 (Reuters) - Argentina will be without talisman Lionel Messi as they head into the final match of Group A against Peru in the Copa America on Saturday.
The eight-times Ballon d'Or winner sustained a thigh injury in Argentina's 1-0 win over Chile.
While he did not participate in Thursday's training, reports suggest he could be fit for Argentina's quarter-final fixture on July 4.
"We will go day-to-day awaiting his evaluation. We also had a matter of overload so in order to avoid questions on that topic, we won't have him for the next match," assistant coach Walter Samuel told reporters on Friday through a translator.
Samuel stood in for head coach Lionel Scaloni at Friday's press conference, as Scaloni is suspended for the Peru match due to Argentina's tardiness after halftime in their two previous matches.
Messi's absence may disappoint fans in Miami, as another sellout was expected.
However, with Argentina already securing a spot in the quarter-finals and looking likely to top the group, precautions are being taken for the Inter Miami star.
Argentina could only lose the top spot to Canada if they suffer a defeat against Peru and Canada clinch a significant victory over Chile.
Argentina are expected to rest several other key players for the Peru match, possibly introducing 19-year-old talents Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) and Valentin Carboni (Inter Milan) to the field.
"We are not underestimating our opponent," Samuel said. "We are always playing to win."
Peru, on the other hand, need to secure a win against Argentina and hope for Canada to lose to Chile to keep their chances of qualification alive.
Peru's campaign so far has seen them draw 0-0 against Chile and lose 1-0 to Canada, the latter after Miguel Araujo received a red card.
Despite the results, Peru coach Jorge Fossati remains upbeat.
"In the first half, we challenged Canada more than Argentina challenged them and I am talking about Argentina, the current world champions," he said. (Reporting by Field Level Media; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Round Paid Stamp Png 40under40 2023 LowRes 1 E1676067252590 Maxresdefault 81h4PdxTk L 2024 38 986750 1907 Maxresdefault Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale 5 1152x648 2024 33 986750 4729 Original 47959.JPEGMaxresdefault 2b2cbb35f7eddd8061a57d3bb373cbbd2289730 Maxresdefault Maxresdefault 91Wltjsp0bL MV5BZTA1YjVkM2YtMzdiNS00YmM3LWEwNTAtZTE5Y2RmYzY2ZWQ4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTIyMjI4OTkx. V1 FMjpg UX1000 2023 3 X S Calendar Week 36 2023 Hqdefault 24 72 Maxresdefault B98cef669aa8f9c3ab9e14f163044def Maxresdefault C965bef3 55f6 4ce2 8203 8b972fa0d584 Landscape 1200 Maxresdefault Maxresdefault 81fW7gvDgwL. AC SL1500 CM20201221 B94b5 635ae?$pcc Pdp$24 72 1693467416340?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=mG0f4Q1mF AQXwZhgvC71fmfnSHPl Gg 9T WjdM7bkUntitled Design 18 450310 Kndytyrfn1uoi2gxdltp68562058 835 3 2023 53x11 ?64240c48
NHL Draft Round 1 Reaction: Smart And Questionable Picks, Best Remaining Prospects
June 28 (Reuters) - Argentina will be without talisman Lionel Messi as they head into the final match of Group A against Peru in the Copa America on Saturday.
The eight-times Ballon d'Or winner sustained a thigh injury in Argentina's 1-0 win over Chile.
While he did not participate in Thursday's training, reports suggest he could be fit for Argentina's quarter-final fixture on July 4.
"We will go day-to-day awaiting his evaluation. We also had a matter of overload so in order to avoid questions on that topic, we won't have him for the next match," assistant coach Walter Samuel told reporters on Friday through a translator.
Samuel stood in for head coach Lionel Scaloni at Friday's press conference, as Scaloni is suspended for the Peru match due to Argentina's tardiness after halftime in their two previous matches.
Messi's absence may disappoint fans in Miami, as another sellout was expected.
However, with Argentina already securing a spot in the quarter-finals and looking likely to top the group, precautions are being taken for the Inter Miami star.
Argentina could only lose the top spot to Canada if they suffer a defeat against Peru and Canada clinch a significant victory over Chile.
Argentina are expected to rest several other key players for the Peru match, possibly introducing 19-year-old talents Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) and Valentin Carboni (Inter Milan) to the field.
"We are not underestimating our opponent," Samuel said. "We are always playing to win."
Peru, on the other hand, need to secure a win against Argentina and hope for Canada to lose to Chile to keep their chances of qualification alive.
Peru's campaign so far has seen them draw 0-0 against Chile and lose 1-0 to Canada, the latter after Miguel Araujo received a red card.
Despite the results, Peru coach Jorge Fossati remains upbeat.
"In the first half, we challenged Canada more than Argentina challenged them and I am talking about Argentina, the current world champions," he said. (Reporting by Field Level Media; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
