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Messi to play in friendly match Argentina-Mexico

Xinhua, August 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

The coach of Argentina's national soccer team, Gerardo "Tata" Martino, confirmed Argentine star Lionel Messi will play the friendly match against Mexico, Mexican media reported Monday.

According to Mexico's sports daily Record, Martino said Messi, forward in Spain's Barcelona, has not said he will not be available to play the friendly game against Mexico, to be played on Sept. 8 in the United States.

After losing Copa America's final game, Messi said he would detach for a while from Argentina's national soccer team.

Despite of this, "Tata" affirmed Messi has not confirmed he will not be available. "Messi has not rejected to play the friendly match (against Mexico). We will see next week when the player list will be spread," said Martino in an interview given to an Argentine media.

Martino also defended Messi from the strong criticism. "I should not discuss about Messi, but I think his participation in the national team was, by far, the best thing of Copa America. Before the World Cup 1986, (Diego Armando) Maradona faced the same situation. I would be very disappointed if Messi does not play more in the national team," he said. Endi