Analysis— 5 min read
Argentina got their World Cup preparations back on track with a 2-0 friendly win over Honduras at Kyle Field in Texas, but the story at full time was still all about Lionel Messi and the state of his left hamstring.
Messi has been managing muscle fatigue in his left thigh after picking up the injury on May 26 in an MLS match for Inter Miami. He left the field early in that game and has been handled carefully since, training partly with the group but yet to feature in Argentina's pre-tournament schedule.
Scaloni was measured but broadly positive before the Honduras fixture. "Leo is doing well. Leo trained for a part with the group, which is important. He's not fully separated; he's coming along," the Argentina coach said. "He may be part of the friendly matches, getting some minutes in these two friendlies."
On the pitch, Argentina showed they can function without him. Lautaro Martinez opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Nicolas Tagliafico was fouled in the box, and the defending champions controlled the match comfortably throughout.
Scaloni also confirmed that Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, Nico Paz and Gonzalo Montiel are all training separately, and that Argentina will not risk any of them in the friendlies. He added that the squad will be replaced if the medical staff decide any player is not fully available for the tournament itself.
Argentina's title defence opens against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16. If Messi misses that fixture, it will be the first World Cup game in his career that he has not started.