Messi doing 'much better' in recovery as Argentina prepare for friendlies

[p][b]"Leo is doing well, he has already trained partly with the group, he's no longer completely separated," [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Scaloni[/a] said.[/p][p][b]"It's possible he'll play a few minutes in the friendlies. We'll see whether that's tomorrow's game or the other one."[/b][/p][p]Defending World Cup champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] will take on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/honduras/fP8cJrsS/"]Honduras[/a] in College Station, Texas, on Saturday and play [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iceland/6TsAIrGN/"]Iceland[/a] on Tuesday in Auburn, Alabama.[/p][p][b]"He's much better, and that gives us peace of mind,"[/b] Scaloni said.[/p][embed guid="f9fc45f3-10a0-4c8c-afd5-64d11ae0bc3b" url="https://x.com/lukeevangelist_/status/2063024829725294793?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The medical staff of the Argentine national team has plenty of work, starting with their star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Messi[/a], who suffered a strain in his left hamstring in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/inter-miami/0AheRyBg/"]Inter Miami[/a]'s last match and was not expected to play against Honduras.[/p][p]Scaloni also confirmed that goalkeeper [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/musso-juan/zB5O8dXn/"]Juan Musso[/a], of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atl-madrid/jaarqpLQ/"]Atletico Madrid[/a], will start the game against Honduras at Kyle Field, given that his first-choice keeper, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/martinez-emiliano/ziCcc5jM/"]Emiliano Martinez[/a], suffered a fracture in the ring finger of his right hand during the warm-up for the Europa League final.[/p][p]Team medical staff has decided to hold him out of both friendlies, although Martinez should be available for the opener against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a].[/p][embed guid="1a83e905-e2a9-4110-b9eb-c0ce58687722" url="https://x.com/AlbicelesteTalk/status/2063022877436231806?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Scaloni will also give minutes to debutant [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beltran-santiago/6s7xV57K/"]Santiago Beltran[/a], the young River Plate goalkeeper called up for the friendlies.[/p][p]In defence, right-backs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/molina-nahuel/M3TzoLot/"]Nahuel Molina[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/montiel-gonzalo/rN9tdN16/"]Gonzalo Montiel[/a] are recovering from muscle tears, and the coaching staff has called up [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/giay-agustin/2HYYrrQS/"]Agustin Giay[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/capaldo-nicolas/CtSuqGep/"]Nicolas Capaldo[/a] to replace them in the friendlies.[/p][p]Centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/romero-cristian/jBZTWXMn/"]Cristian Romero[/a] is already training with the group after the knee sprain he suffered in April, although he comes in without match fitness.[/p][p]Scaloni will have to decide whether to give him minutes or wait a few more days. Another case drawing scrutiny is that of Nicolas Paz, who is training separately after taking a heavy hit to his knee.[/p][p]He has been ruled out for the Honduras game and will be cutting it close for the World Cup debut. Leandro Paredes and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alvarez-julian/bBHauDIC/"]Julian Alvarez[/a] also arrived at Argentina's camp in Kansas with physical issues. Although they are improving, it is uncertain whether they will get any playing time in the warm-up matches.[/p][p][b]"The situation is improving,"[/b] Scaloni said. [b]"They're fine, and we don't want to risk them in these games, and the idea is surely that (the injured players) won't take part in these friendlies.[/b][/p][p][b]"In this one (against Honduras), definitely not," [/b]he added. [b]"In the second, there might be a chance that one of them could play."[/b][/p][p]Scaloni said the coming week will show [b]"exactly where we stand."[/b][/p][p][b]"For now, everything is going quite well, and next week we'll see,"[/b] he said.[/p][p]Argentina are set to begin their World Cup campaign on June 16th against Algeria in Kansas City.[/p]