Messi misses Argentina friendly with pulled muscle
Posted Wednesday, March 30, 2011 by UK.eurosport.yahoo.com
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was a late withdrawal with a leg injury from the Argentina side that lined up against Costa Rica in a friendly on Tuesday.
"I had prepared the team with (Messi) in it. We're not pressured by Barcelona or anyone...I think that with the scan done on him today, if he played he'd last five minutes," coach Sergio Batista told Argentine media.
"He suffered a pulled (right leg) muscle and we must look after the player, we can't take a risk. I'm sorry because I want him in the eleven and also for the crowd.
"We have to respect the timing for the Copa America (in Argentina in July) and for Barcelona," he added.
Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore stood in for Messi in a team with six changes from the side that drew 1-1 with the United States in New Jersey on Saturday.
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