Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about Lionel Messi playing at the World Cup and the match against Mauritania.

Lionel Scaloni is with the Argentina national team and held a press conference on Thursday speaking about Lionel Messi and the match against Mauritania on Friday. Here is what he had to say when asked about Lionel Messi playing at the World Cup:

“It’s a matter that concerns him. I don’t have to answer that. I want him to be there, but it’s he who decides. He has earned the right to choose calmly. We are in no hurry.”

Scaloni also spoke about the match against Mauritania:

“The team will be a mix of players we want to evaluate and others who need to raise their level. Messi is going to play, I don’t know if from the start or in the second half.”

Joaquín Panichelli has suffered an injury in training with Argentina.

Panichelli got injured while in training with the Argentina national team on Thursday. According to Gastón Edul, the 23 year old will undergo tests.

The Argentina national team will play Mauritania on Friday and Zambia on Tuesday.

Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone were both part of the starting team in training.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni made some changes in training on Thursday. According to Gastón Edul, Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone were part of the starting team in training, playing with Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister.

The Argentina national team will play Mauritania on Friday.

Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolás Otamendi could both not be in the starting eleven for Argentina against Mauritania.

De Paul and Otamendi are rumored to not start with Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni expected to make two changes for the match. According to ESPN Argentina, Rodrigo De Paul has a bruise in his left thigh and Nicolás Otamendi has a muscle overload.

Leandro Paredes could start in place of Rodrigo De Paul and Marcos Senesi could start in place of Nicolás Otamendi. Here is the rumored eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Molina, Romero, Senesi, Tagliafico; Enzo, Paredes, Mac Allister; Almada, Messi and Álvarez.