Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that Lionel Messi will travel with the team to Bolivia.
Lionel Messi was substituted out during Argentina’s 1-0 win vs. Ecuador and rumors began going around that he would be a doubt for the team’s match vs. Bolivia on Tuesday. Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Sunday and stated that Messi will travel. Here is what he had to say:
“Messi traveling is a positive thing. If he travels, it’s to play, for sure. As a coach, I would have told him to go back and rest with his club. We know he always wants to play, so we’ll see what decision we make on Tuesday.”
Messi sitting on the reserve bench is itself inspiring for the whole team. It is going to be difficult at that altitude. But the team needs to show its mettle without Messi. I would prefer to see Licha in place of Otamendi too. Di Maria can start as captain and replaced by Messi on the 55th. Alvarez and Garnacho can be the young bloods doing the running.