Argentina to play injury-plagued Germany sans Lionel Messi
Football | Oct 09, 2019, 09:16 AM ISTLionel Messi is currently serving a three-month international suspension imposed by Conmebol.
Lionel Messi is currently serving a three-month international suspension imposed by Conmebol.
Neither Sergio Aguero nor Angel Di Maria have played for Argentina since the latest Copa America in Brazil.
It will be only Roger Federer's second appearance in Colombia, coming seven years after he beat Frenchman Wilfried Tsonga in an exhibition duel in Bogota.
Lionel Scaloni replaced Jorge Sampaoli after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where the Albiceleste were eliminated in the last 16 by eventual champions France.
Lionel Scaloni said last week that he had been guaranteed the role only until December after guiding the Albiceleste to third place at the Copa America in Brazil.
Following defeats in the last two finals, Lionel Messi had a sudden end to this year's Copa America by being sent off in the third-place game between Argentina and Chile.
Argentina beat Chile 2-1 to finish 3rd in Copa America despite their talisman Lionel Messi seeing red.
Brazil will seek their 10th South American title, while superstar Lionel Messi remains without trophies for his national team.
Sergio Aguero has scored just once in four matches in this tournament, prompting doubts about whether he would hold his place in Argentina's attack alongside Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez.
Gabriel Jesus said the match would be the biggest classic between teams because it pitted two giants with a very good history.
Felipe Luis was replaced at halftime of Brazil's quarterfinal against Paraguay on Thursday, when the hosts advanced on penalties.
Lionel Messi has scored only once in four games so far, with his goal coming from a penalty in a match against Paraguay.
Argentina flourished to beat Venezuela 2-0 on Friday and set up a Copa América semi-final against Brazil at Belo Horizonte's Mineirao Stadium.
Argentina reached the quarterfinals of 2019 Copa America with a 2-0 win over Qatar in their final group game.
Lionel Messi couldn't do enough to spark Argentina, which lost its first Copa America match since the 2007 final against Brazil.
Argentina will begin their Copa America campaign against Colombia on June 15 before facing Paraguay and Qatar in Group B.
Lionel Messi was a part of the Argentina teams that finished runners-up at the 2014 World Cup, the 2015 Copa America and the 2016 Copa America.
In addition to "five or six" games in Argentina, there would be three or four fixtures in Chile and two each in Uruguay and Paraguay.
Diego Maradona was due to fly from Mexico, where he is currently coaching the nation's second division side Dorados on Tuesday.
Argentina will play Venezuela in Madrid on Friday and Morocco in Tangier next week.
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