Football
Adriana Garcia 5y

Argentina coach Scaloni has 'good feeling' Messi will return to national team

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has said he has "a good feeling" that Lionel Messi will return to the national team in March.

Barcelona's Messi has not featured for Argentina since captaining them at the World Cup, where they were knocked out by winners France.

Argentina take on Venezuela in Madrid on March 22 and Czech Republic in Dresden four days later, with the friendlies part of their preparations for the Copa America in June.

Asked about Messi's possible return, Scaloni told reporters: "We will probably talk days before we provide the list for the FIFA March window.

"When the time comes, we will speak to him, and we have a good feeling. I hope he can be with us and be happy."

Scaloni, who took charge of Argentina on a temporary basis after the World Cup before accepting the role full time last month, said his only regret so far was not having had the chance to coach Messi.

Messi, who spent Christmas in his native Rosario, has not publicly spoken about his national team future.

Brazil coach Tite has said he hopes the Barcelona star will be part of the Argentina squad at the Copa America, adding: "I want Messi and all the best players to come to Brazil.

"I reiterate that a team, in order to be the best, must beat their rivals and overcome high-level opponents. That is why we want Neymar, Messi, [Alexis] Sanchez, [Luis] Suarez also."

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