Lionel Messi has been confirmed to start for Argentina in their Copa América quarterfinal match against Ecuador, putting an end to speculation about his fitness. The match is scheduled for July 4, 2024, at 22:00 local time (20:00 ET) at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Messi, who had been sidelined with a right adductor strain and missed the previous match against Peru, has reportedly recovered fully and is expected to play.Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni made the decision to start Messi after a personal conversation with the captain. The team’s doctor, Daniel Martínez, has confirmed that Messi is no longer feeling pain and should be able to play the full 90 minutes if needed. The Argentine lineup is expected to feature Messi alongside Lautaro Martínez and either Nicolás González or Ángel Di María in the front line.Ecuador, led by coach Félix Sánchez Bas, will be looking to cause an upset and break their 23-year drought without a win against a South American team in the tournament. The Ecuadorian side is expected to rely heavily on their strong defense, featuring players like Félix Torres, Piero Hincapié, and William Pacho, to counter Argentina’s powerful offense.Historically, Argentina has dominated encounters with Ecuador in the Copa América, boasting 11 wins and 5 draws in their 16 meetings. The last time these two teams met in the Copa América was in 2021, where Argentina won 3-0 with Messi scoring the final goal.The match will be officiated by Uruguayan referee Andrés Matonte, with VAR assistance from Leodán González. If the game ends in a tie, it will go to a penalty shootout. The winner of this quarterfinal will face either Venezuela or Canada in the semifinals.
Key points
- Lionel Messi has recovered from his injury and will start for Argentina against Ecuador in the Copa América quarterfinals.
- The match will take place on July 4, 2024, at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
- Argentina is the defending champion and has historically dominated Ecuador in Copa América matches.
- Ecuador is looking to cause an upset and break their 23-year drought against South American teams in the tournament.
