Photo: Daniel Jayo/Getty Images
The Argentine team completed a day of regenerative exercises this morning after beating Ecuador at the start of the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, while maintaining the unknown as to whether the physical state of the captain, Lionel Messi, will allow you to travel to Bolivia.
After the 1-0 victory against La Tri in the Más Monumental Stadium, ‘La Scaloneta’ was divided into two groups for this Friday’s tasks: the starters exercised in the gym with a stationary bicycle block, while those who had little participation or did not play minutes, did formal soccer, with reinforcement from some members of the under-23 team coached by Javier mascherano.
Lionel Messi, scorer of the only goal in the win against La Tri, withdrew at minute 88 with a muscular ailment, as confirmed by the coach, Lionel Scaloni, at a press conference.
However, This morning he was not tested and the coaching staff will wait until Saturday to evaluate his physical condition and determine if he is in top shape to travel to La Paz on Sunday.
Two other players under evaluation are Lisandro Martínez, who arrived from Manchester with a bruise on the instep of his right foot and was not available to Scaloni yesterday, and Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero, who in one of the last plays of the duel against Ecuador suffered a strong contracture in the posterior rectum of the right leg.
After the practice is over, the albiceleste squad will have free time until Saturday, when they will meet again at the Argentine Football Association grounds (AFA) in Ezeiza, baptized Lionel Messi after the World Cup in Qatar, to complete his penultimate training session before the trip to La Paz.
On Sunday there will be a press conference by Scaloni, the last practice in Argentine territory and a trip to Bolivia to wait the match against La Verde, scheduled for Tuesday at the Hernando Siles Stadiumfor the second day of these South American qualifiers.
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