Lionel Messi scored a first-half double within two minutes as
Argentina warmed up for the Copa America with a comprehensive 5-1 win
over Nicaragua on Friday in San Juan.
The Central Americans, who will participate in this month’s Gold
Cup tournament while Argentina battle it out in Brazil, frustrated the
home side initially.
But it was left to captain Messi to spark his side into action in
their only warm-up match ahead of the tournament, expertly opening the
scoring on 37 minutes before grabbing another just 96 seconds later.
Lautaro Martinez, the Inter Milan forward, also scored twice,
coming off the substitutes bench at half-time to give coach Lionel
Scaloni food for thought ahead of the opening match with Colombia on
June 15.
Scaloni, brought in after Jorge Sampaoli was sacked following a
disastrous showing at the World Cup last summer, is aiming to build a
younger team and end Argentina’s 26-year wait for a trophy.
Indeed, in Scaloni’s Copa America squad only Messi, Sergio Aguero
and Angel Di Maria remain from the one that was beaten by Germany in the
World Cup final in Rio five years ago.
An on-song Messi, however, is needed for the South Americans to prosper over the next few weeks.
Messi has lost three Copa finals —- 2007, 2015 and 2016 — and the
last time Argentina won an international title was in the same
competition back in 1993, when the diminutive forward was just six years
old. They have reached four of the last five finals.
With Brazil missing the injured Neymar for the showpiece event, which starts on June 14, Argentina are one of the favourites.
Below is Messi's amazing solo first goal:
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