Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI held a press conference on Thursday ahead of his team’s friendly against Nicaraguay in San Juan.
With it being the only game prior to Argentina’s opening match at the Copa America against Colombia, coach SCALONI will have a lot to think about in regards to his team. SCALONI confirmed the starting eleven in the press conference.
Speaking at the press conference, here’s what SCALONI had to say about the game.
“The players feel proud for having received the welcoming they did here in San Juan. It’s an important match for us, to see how the players respond when given a chance. We were able to work with most of the players over a few days, we can’t complain. We want a solid team, one we can identify with.
“We watched Nicaragua’s last two games. They are a difficult team. For us, it’s an important game.”
If he will make any changes to the team for the Copa America.
“I don’t believe we will have too many changes from here to the Copa America. The one’s that will play against Nicaragua will have the chance to show us what it means being a starter. The idea is to have the best Copa America possible and to compete at the highest level.”
In regards to the attack, SCALONI is convinced that things can go really well for the team.
“We know that up front, we have pure dynamite. Not only Leo but AGUERO and Lautaro. Players who can score a lot of goals. For that reason, if we are solid, we will have a lot of chances. If we do well as a team in terms of performance and if MESSI does what he does every Sunday, surely things will go well for us.
“Being solid does not only mean defending. It means knowing what to do at all times, what’s going on in the match. They’ve understood that. They are smart, smarter than any other players.
“If we recover the ball, what I would like is to attack as quickly as possible. Most of all if we get the ball back in an attacking position. That’s what I told the players.”
About who will be the starting goalkeeper for Argentina at the Copa America:
“Tomorrow, ARMANI will play but I can’t guarantee that he will be the starting goalkeeper for the Copa America.”
The coach even spoke about GUIDO RODRIGUEZ and the injury to Exequiel PALACIOS which meant he would miss the Copa America.
“Guido (RODRIGUEZ) is a very interesting player. What happened with PALACIOS was very difficult for us.”
If he has set in stone a formation:
“I’ll never fully commit to one system or with the positions. Today, I’m doing well. We will see on Friday if I’m still well, ha. I know the weight of being an Argentina national team coach but I always have my feet on the ground. I’ve had the same values since I was a kid.
“These players were born to win, to compete at these levels. Making make them understand what it means to wear this shirt is the easy part, they already know all of that.”
Argentina national team coach Lionel SCALONI confirmed his team’s starting eleven against Nicaragua for the game on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference, coach SCALONI stated that the attack for Friday’s game woukd be lead by Lionel MESSI, Sergio AGÜERO and Matias SUAREZ. Here’s the starting eleven:
Sergio AGÜERO was interviewed by Fox Sports Argentina, where he discussed the national team, the Copa America, himself, Lionel MESSI and more.
AGÜERO wasn’t always called-up to the Argentina national team by coach Lionel SCALONI. As a matter of fact, his inclusion in the Copa America squad was the first in a SCALONI team.
Speaking in the interview, AGÜERO had this to say:
“The system will be different from how we were playing, I think Leo’s (SCALONI) system could work. If we have a good defensive base, we will be good. The most important thing is that they don’t score goals against us. Argentina are always candidates in every competition.”
In regards to not being called-up in the past to being called-up to the Copa America team:
“When I wasn’t being called-up, I had doubts about if I would be there (Copa America) or not. Leo called me in April to tell me that I would be called, I was very happy. I don’t know if it will be the last (tournament) or before last… We want to win something with the Argentina national team.”
AGUERO says that physically, he’s in good shape:
“Physically, I am very good. I didn’t suffer any muscle injuries during the season as I did in previous years.”
On the pressure on Argentina to win:
“We know that there’s a lot of pressure on Argentina. The smallest mistake and you are eliminated because it’s a short tournament. With the national team, you can’t afford to have a bad match. I’ll try to do the same as I do with City.”
The pressure that is on captain Lionel MESSI’s shoulders:
“I know Leo and when he’s angry, he says things which he later regrets. But when he comes here, he is happy and he’ll never stop trying.
“I’m more anxious to be a champion for MESSI than for me. Hopefully one day, it happens. It’s his dream and everyone’s dream. I put myself in his place and I want to try and do my best for him to lift the Copa America.
“It’s been a long time that he comes here and he suffers. I also suffer. We know what he can bring and the rest have to be mentally prepared not to fail.”
Lionel MESSI gave a lengthy interview with TyC Sports where he discussed the Argentina national team, 2010 FIFA World Cup, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup, the Olympics, free kicks, his personal life and much more.
The Argentina captain once more gave a long interview as his team prepares for the 2019 Copa America. In regards to the current team, here’s what he had to say:
“I feel very well, integrated. There’s a beautiful group that is very anxious to do well. A really good group, with good people, beyond just football that have a lot of desire.
“We are going with the same desire and anxiousness as always but the truth is that Argentina are going through a process of change. For most, it’s their first official tournament but it doesn’t mean Argentina won’t go wanting to win the Copa America. We are not candidates like other times.
“I finished the season more tired and frustrated mentally than physically because of what happened in the last fifteen days. Of the last few years, it was a season where I played less and I feel well.”
The first time he wore the Argentina national team shirt:
“It was a spectacular moment for me, a moment I had wished would come. A lot had been done for that to happen because it was complicated during that time, I was playing in Barcelona and it wasn’t easy to see me back then as it is with the kids now. It was a different time, it was a dream come true.
“Two friendly matches were setup against Paraguay and Uruguay for me to be able to participate, it was quick, rapid. It had to be done, it was the moment.”
About playing with Argentina, MESSI said “in no moment” did he doubt playing for Argentina.
“We did everything, we kept sending videos and anything of mine for them to know me here. To see if I would have a chance to come here or not.”
The FIFA U20 World Cup in the Netherlands:
“It was one of the most beautiful moments of my career. Not only for being champion but for the experience, living it, the group… I enjoyed it a lot and to top it off we were champions.
When celebrating the FIFA U20 World Cup, he wore a shirt saying “Mari, Bruno, Tomi and Angus.” When asked who they are:
“My sister, my cousin, my nephews… At the time, they were the youngest of the family. I don’t remember why I had that shirt.
Lionel Messi celebrates winning the 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup with Argentina.
On the start of the FIFA U20 World Cup:
“I started off on the bench. We lost the first match against the United States and in the second, I started. I scored and I never came off ever. At the time, it seemed easy to win but it changed and it cost more. I have this, the Olympic games but when I say I want to win something, I mean with the senior national team.”
MESSI also spoke about getting red carded on his senior Argentina national team debut:
“At that moment, it was terrible. My first match, that way… I didn’t know what could happen after that, luckily, it was just an anecdote. I remember crying a lot, the biggest (players) called me, they sheltered me, they told me to calm down.”
Lionel Messi on the substitutes bench for Argentina against Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The Argentina captain spoke about his team’s elimination against Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and him not playing:
“On one hand, I was fuming for not having played but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t watching the game, that I wanted to win and to pass to the next round.
“When we were eliminated, the dressing room was terrible, tears, bitterness, I was the first one… I don’t remember the moment they took that picture, the one with the boots, because there were no substitutions left. They started saying that I didn’t watch the match, that I didn’t care, that I was elsewhere… That’s where everything started, ha (the criticism). I didn’t think of it. It was idiotic. Yes, I was fuming because I wanted to come on (as a substitute) but I didn’t want Argentina to lose because I didn’t play.”
On the struggle of being with the Argentina national team for the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics:
“GUARDIOLA was a phenomenon and gave me permission but it took someone from the club to control me. It’s that at that moment, I was injured. I really wanted to go and I was constantly talking with people of the Argentina national team who were waiting for me until the last day.”
On getting a visa:
“I went running from Italy to Barcelona to do the paperwork and to fly out that same night. I was unbearable, now I’m not as unbearable because time passes. But it showed on my face, I was angry at life. I just wanted to f*** off and I let it be known.
Winning gold at the 2008 Beijing summer Olympics:
“The title has a lot of value just like all the medals that you could win with your country. It’s important and it’s SIGNIFICANT. I enjoyed it a lot at that moment and we celebrated the way we deserved to celebrate.
“We were there only one time (at the Olympic village). We crossed some of the best sports athletes like Kobe BRYANT, Rafael NADAL, it was impressive. We asked them for photos.”
On his dad:
“They talk more about my dad than other football players. They put him in the middle of a lot of things, myself as well but one thing is to talk about me as a football player and the other is of my dad.
“They would say that I would select players for the Argentina team, coaches… I can isolate myself and dedicate myself to playing but they suffer, the truth is that they are the one’s who have a really hard time.”
On dedicating a goal to his dad:
“It was a match against Uruguay that we won in the World Cup qualifiers. My father was going through a difficult time and the best way for me to be with him or close to him was to do that. I know what he enjoys in football, to see me play, he suffers a lot, it was a nice gift for him.”
Leaving his family to be with the Argentina national team:
“It costs me to leave them (his family), it costs more every time. Every time it costs me more to be with the Argentina team setup, being far from them, I suffer.”
MESSI spoke about the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the World Cup in general. When asked if he will win the World Cup:
“What do I know… God will decide if we will meet or not. It would be the highest thing possible, it’s the biggest dream I have left to accomplish. To be so close at that World Cup (2014) was terrible because we deserved to lift it.
“It was the best moment, in general. We had an impressive group. It gets more complicated every time, no one gifts you anything and not letting in goals is very important, not giving space.”
Lionel Messi during the 2014 FIFA World Cup final ceremony.
Lionel MESSI on wearing the number 10 shirt and being given the shirt by Diego MARADONA:
“The number 10 shirt is special, for where it came from, for who used it. The number 10 shirt of the Argentina national team was made important by Diego but for me, it doesn’t change anything to wear the 10, the 11 or the number 9 shirt.
“When he gave me (the shirt) he told me he wanted to give me the shirt that he used, that he saw me preparing to wearing it and that it was the time, that I wear it and enjoy it.
On wearing the captain’s armband for the first time and it being given by MARADONA as coach:
“It was something spectacular. They made me talk a little bit in the dressing room, ha. It was complicated but beautiful. I’m not one to say a lot, just what is necessary. Every one knows the importance of the matches.
“I’m captain in my own way. It’s true that I grew up somewhere else and adopted other customs. It’s a beautiful responsibility, one that I like and I manage it calmly.”
Lionel Messi with Argentina against Greece at the 2010 FIFA Word Cup.
MESSI mentioned that it was coach Alfio BASILE who taught him how to take free kicks using Juan Roman RIQUELME as an example.
“He told me “get your baby foot up, you don’t see how Roman does it?” I pull it slowly, I don’t do it the same way. I was trying and at least I was always kicking it the same way. I wasn’t kicking just to kick.”
On the team play:
“Matches are tighter every time, more tactical, there’s no space. Now, every time there are 11 guys in the area and quickly counter attack you.
“No one gives you anything, no one is exposed. There are few teams that want to play football, that have the ball, that open up and give you space.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni used two different line-ups in training ahead of the team’s game on Friday.
Lionel MESSI lead the attack in one team alongside Matias SUAREZ and Sergio AGÜERO while the other tram had Angel DI MARIA, Paulo DYBALA and Lautaro MARTINEZ. Here was the first starting eleven:
