Scaloni Keeps Messi on Argentina Penalties After 2 World Cup Misses
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Jul 11
Scaloni Keeps Messi on Argentina Penalties After 2 World Cup Misses
3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 11
Summary
Two missed penalties have not changed Argentina's plan: Lionel Scaloni said Lionel Messi will keep taking spot kicks if he wants to in Saturday's World Cup quarterfinal against Switzerland.
Messi's recent record has fueled the question — he has converted four of his last seven penalties for Argentina since the 2022 World Cup — but Scaloni said his form and stature earn him that choice.
Eight goals and one assist in 410 tournament minutes underpin that backing, with Scaloni also saying the 39-year-old still has freedom to drift centrally or wide if it creates openings.
Scaloni said Argentina enter the quarterfinal in good shape after knockout wins over Cape Verde and Egypt, and he rejected Egypt's claims of officiating favoritism despite a VAR-disallowed goal.