Copa America 2024: Lionel Messi, Lionel Scaloni to miss Argentina’s clash with Peru

Argentina will be without their talisman Lionel Messi and manager Lionel Scaloni for Saturday’s final group game against Peru at Copa America 2024.

Argentina talisman Lionel Messi and manager Lionel Scaloni will both be forced to miss Saturday’s Copa America clash with Peru.
The Copa America holders have already secured their place in the knockout rounds after beating Canada and Chile in their opening two matches.

Argentina will wrap up the group stage when they face Peru in Saturday’s meeting at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

However, La Albiceleste will be unable to call upon Messi, who will not be risked against Peru due to an injury problem.

Messi required treatment in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Chile, and he admitted after the game that he is contending with a physical issue.

Messi to sit out Peru clash

“I felt some discomfort in my right hamstring at the beginning of the game,” Messi told reporters on Tuesday. “It was tight. It wasn’t as loose as it should’ve been. But I was able to finish the game. We’ll see how it goes.”

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s final group game, Argentina assistant coach Walter Samuel confirmed that Messi will continue to be assessed in the coming days.

“Leo had a problem in the last game and he won’t be in this game,” Samuel said in the pre-match press conference. “We are going to see how it is day by day to await his evolution.”

As a result of his injury, Messi will miss a Copa America game for the first time since sitting out Argentina’s opening game at the 2016 tournament.

Scaloni set to serve one-match suspension
The 2022 World Cup winners will also have to play Saturday’s fixture without their manager on the touchline after Scaloni was fined and hit with a one-match suspension.

Scaloni will be absent after being banned by CONMEBOL for his team’s delayed return to the pitch following Tuesday’s half-time break.

Argentina were warned for being late for the second half in the opening game against Canada, but Scaloni has now been punished after his team repeated the offence in the narrow win over Chile.

Commenting on the ban, Samuel said: “Lionel is upset about this. We consider ourselves to be staff with a lot of professionalism.

“We found out today. It was a blow. Sometimes you’re talking about a small detail. We weren’t trying to find an advantage. Now we have to focus on the next match and move forward.”

Although Argentina are already through, they will be looking to wrap up top spot and set up a quarter-final against the team that finishes second in Group B.

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