Argentina coach Scaloni to miss WCup qualifier due to virus

By: The Associated Press Posted: Last Modified:

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni will not travel for Thursday's World Cup qualifying match against Chile after testing positive for COVID-19.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/01/2022 (1710 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni will not travel for Thursday’s World Cup qualifying match against Chile after testing positive for COVID-19.

Scaloni told a news conference Wednesday that his assistants Walter Samuel and Roberto Ayala will be in charge for the match. Argentina has already secured a spot at the tournament in Qatar, while Chile is still in contention.

“I am well, recovered. But the PCR remains positive,” Scaloni said.

Lionel Scaloni, coach of the Argentine national team, leads a training session ahead of a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier match against Chile at the Argentina Football Association in Ezeiza on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Lionel Scaloni, coach of the Argentine national team, leads a training session ahead of a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifier match against Chile at the Argentina Football Association in Ezeiza on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Argentina superstar Lionel Messi will also be absent as he continues to recover from the virus. Paulo Dybala is expected to be his replacement in the team’s starting lineup.

“I talked to (Messi) after he tested positive for COVID. It affected him a lot, he had the roughest variant,” Scaloni said. “It is important that he recovers, feels fit because there will be important moments ahead.”

The virus has also affected Chile, with defenders Mauricio Isla and Francisco Sierralta and winger Jean Meneses out.

Brazil and Argentina have both qualified for the World Cup, with two more automatic spots up for grabs in South American qualifying. The fifth-place team advances to a playoff against an Asian opponent. Only last-place Venezuela, with seven points, is out of contention.

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More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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