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Buenos Aires (AFP) – Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni called for “taking advantage” of the magic of captain Lionel Messi, without thinking regarding what the French star of Paris Saint-Germain will decide regarding his future with his country following the World Cup in Qatar at the end of this year.
And following Friday’s victory over Venezuela 3-0 in the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar, to which the Argentines qualified, Scaloni said that “Messi will sit and think” regarding his future following the finals.
Then, on Sunday, from the Argentine Football Association headquarters, and before the conclusion of the South American qualifiers for Qatar 2022 on Tuesday in Venezuela, he said, “After the World Cup, we will have to assess the situation. But for the time being, let’s take advantage of his presence.”
After the victory over Venezuela at the Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Messi said he would make a decision regarding his future following the World Cup, while his colleague in Saint-Germain Angel Di Maria indicated the possibility of his retirement as well.
Messi, who scored the third goal for his country, said, “After the World Cup, I will clarify many things. Regardless of the result there. We hope that things will be good.”
Messi hopes to win his first world title following four World Cups, most notably in 2014, when he was runner-up to Germany following the extension.
In response to a question regarding his future plans, the former Barcelona player, who will turn thirty-five in June, said, “I don’t know. I’m thinking regarding what is close, which is the Ecuador match (Tuesday in Guayaquil). Then there are the preparation matches in September and October. /October. Then there is the World Cup, and following that, I don’t know.”
“I’ve been happy here for a while in Argentina. It’s nice to have fun with this fans and the national team and to win the Copa America with this great group.”
The owner of 81 goals with “Albi Celeste” explained that the victory at the ” Bombonera” was important “to say goodbye to the fans, because we will not play here before the World Cup.”
As for Di Maria, he wrote on Instagram following Friday’s match, in which he also scored a goal, “Maybe this was my last game in Argentina with this shirt.”
But Scaloni doesn’t want “to think regarding the future, but let’s take advantage of their wonderful presence. If this was really his last game in Argentina, it was a dream match: Di Maria scored a goal and assisted and earned recognition from the entire stadium”.
“Of course, there is an age for everything, and time passes,” Scaloni concluded. “But they must be available (for the national team) and realize that.”
© 2022 AFP
