- Argentina Captain Lionel Messi, skipped training on Thursday
- He picked a hamstring injury even as his team played against Croatia
- France also has its fair share of missing players due to illness
Lionel Messi, the captain of Argentina, skipped training on Thursday due to a hamstring injury, casting doubt on his readiness for Sunday’s World Cup final matchup against France.
Three days before the 2022 World Cup final against France, Messi isn’t fully recovered from a knock he sustained in the semi-final victory over Croatia.
Unsurprisingly, Argentina’s 35-year-old talisman has been the driving force behind their journey to the World Cup final. In his six World Cup appearances, he has won four Man of the Match accolades.
He stole the show once more as Lionel Scaloni’s team easily defeated Croatia 3-0 to secure a meeting with destiny at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.
Lionel Messi hamstring injury. Photo by Mint
Messi did, though, appear to be labouring with a hamstring issue in the early going against Croatia, clutching his left thigh while surveying the field. But the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner persevered, scoring the game’s first goal from the penalty spot and then providing an unbelievable assist for Julian Alvarez to score the game’s second goal.
His health has suffered as a result of continuing to play with a hamstring injury ahead of this weekend’s highly anticipated matchup with the defending champions, France.
Messi missed Argentina’s training session on Thursday because of soreness in his left hamstring, according to Foot Mercato.
Angel di Maria is expected to play in the championship game after missing the last few because of injury, giving Argentina a boost. However, the country must wait anxiously for information regarding Messi’s availability before what could be the fairytale conclusion to his international career in important competitions.
After receiving his fourth straight Man of the Match award in the victory over Croatia, Messi assured the media that despite initial hamstring concerns, he was OK. Even while he won’t be at his best for the France match, he will be driven to play through the discomfort.
In the meantime, after Adrien Rabiot and Dayot Upamecano missed Wednesday’s semifinal victory over Morocco due to illness, the France team has now lost a third member to the virus that is sweeping through the team.
Frenchman Kingsley Coman. Photo by Goal.com
Kingsley Coman, the third member of the France team to contract the virus, is questionable for the World Cup final after missing practise due to illness.
After winning the championship in Russia four and a half years ago, Les Bleus will attempt to win the World Cup for a second time in a row when they face Argentina on Sunday at Lusail Stadium. Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani scored goals for Didier Deschamps’ team in a 2-0 victory over Morocco to secure their spot in the championship game.
However, since Rabiot and Upamecano were both omitted from the starting lineup to face Morocco, the French team is in for harder times.
Despite being listed on the bench, the two were not risked for the match against the Atlas Lions because they became ill due to Qatar’s constant use of air conditioning.
Coman started experiencing flu-like symptoms the day before the game on Wednesday afternoon, and L’Equipe has now confirmed that he has contracted the sickness. The Bayern Munich winger was unable to play and missed lunch with his teammates as a result. Coman also skipped France’s recovery practise on Thursday night.
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