Scaloni confirms Messi will start for Argentina against Colombia

Lionel Scaloni: Tomorrow Leo Messi will play from the start. Let's hope people enjoy him and the team.

 Walter Samuel will STAY as Argentina National Team assistant coach, confirms Lionel Scaloni 

"There was a call from Chivu, his former teammate at Inter, to see if he would join him. He appreciated the call, but he has a commitment with us.

"I thank him because it’s a big show of affection. It hurts him deeply not to go, but that’s how things are, case closed.”

Lionel Scaloni: "How we can compete against that 4 teams who were at Nations League semi-finals? I congratulate Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo, it was a great match, I want to congratulate Spain too. We would compete with four of them on equal terms."

“We are a competitive team and can go toe-to-toe with any national team in the world. 

"Our team is currently at a point where we can play the same way whether Messi is available or not. Before, it was a bit more complicated. Today we don’t have that need, and the team functions just the same."

Lionel Scaloni: "Can Messi and Almada play together? How could they not? Good players can play together. And when good players play with other good players, they play even better.”

Lionel Scaloni: "The Finalissima date? I have no news. It couldn’t be played this year, and next year… I don’t know. Unless Spain has a World Cup qualifiers playoff, which I don’t think will happen, but you never know… maybe March… but I don’t know if March is the ideal time… it’s not up to us to decide, let's see."