On July 3, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni attended the pre-match press conference ahead of the Copa America quarter-final against Ecuador, addressing Messi’s physical condition and the impartiality of referees.
Regarding Messi’s health, Scaloni stated, “We will decide after Saturday’s training session whether Messi can participate. He felt good yesterday, but we need to observe him further. Messi’s absence would affect everyone, it’s self-explanatory. We are doing everything we can to ensure he plays. If ultimately he can’t, we will choose the most suitable replacement. I haven’t discussed this situation with him in detail yet. I think it’s more appropriate to communicate after the final training session.”
On the opponent, Ecuador, Scaloni said, “Past encounters mean nothing, every match is a new challenge. Although historical data shows we have an advantage of 11 wins and 5 draws against Ecuador, this doesn’t mean anything.”
Regarding the Spanish national team, Scaloni expressed, “I sincerely hope Spain achieves great results in the European Championship. I have Spanish ancestry in my family, and I am proud of their national team’s performance. I respect Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente very much and look forward to their success.”
On the fairness of referees, Scaloni emphasized, “I never believe referees favor us. There were similar comments during the Qatar World Cup, but I firmly believe it’s not the case. Whenever a team wins, there are always accusations of biased refereeing. However, referees are human too, and they make mistakes. Even with VAR assistance, human error cannot be entirely eliminated.”
Regarding the competitive landscape of the Copa America, Scaloni pointed out, “This Copa America competition is incredibly intense, and any team has the potential to win. I said before the tournament that Ecuador has the ability to challenge for the title, and I still hold that view.”
On his personal experience of being banned from the sidelines during the match against Peru, Scaloni stated, “The ban during the match against Peru was indeed strange, and I hope such incidents don’t happen again. I enjoy fighting alongside the players, and I hope to be with them all the way.”
Regarding Lautaro Martinez’s performance, Scaloni commended, “I expect Lautaro Martinez to maintain his excellent form. He seized his opportunities, made significant contributions to the team, and we are very happy about that.”
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