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Argentina to Rest Messi on Bench for Final Group Match Against Jordan
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Lionel Messi will start the team's final group-stage match against Jordan on the substitutes' bench. The 39-year-old leads the tournament with five goals after Argentina secured first place in Group J. Scaloni said Messi will likely enter in the second half.
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Lionel Messi will start Argentina's final group-stage match against Jordan on the substitutes' bench. Manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed the decision at a news conference on June 26 in Arlington, Texas. Argentina has already secured first place in Group J regardless of the result.
Scaloni stated that Messi will most likely enter in the second half. He said the decision to rest the forward was discussed and agreed with Messi and is not injury-related. The choice also aims to keep Messi in competitive form ahead of the knockout stage.
Messi, 39, leads the Golden Boot standings with five goals from his first two matches. He scored a double against Austria that made him the World Cup's all-time record goalscorer. Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 and Austria 2-0 in its opening games.
Scaloni said the decision on starters is unrelated to the lineup for the round-of-32 match. Argentina will face the second-place team from Group H on July 1 in Miami. Possible candidates to start in Messi's position include Nico Paz and Giovani Lo Celso.
Jordan stated it is not afraid of Argentina or Messi ahead of the June 27 match. Scaloni added that the team intends to dominate possession while accounting for Jordan's fast forwards.
