MADRID: Argentina captain Lionel Messi will miss his side’s friendly against world champions Germany on Wednesday due to a groin strain, his club side Barcelona confirmed yesterday.
Germany’s Mesut Ozil is also unlikely to play but could be fit for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland this Sunday, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said.
The match offers Argentina an immediate chance for revenge for their agonising 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the World Cup final in July.
Messi suffered the injury in Barca’s 1-0 win away to Villarreal on Sunday and will also miss a charity match in Rome yesterday.
“Leo Messi will remain in Barcelona as a precaution due to a strain in his right adductor,” the Catalan club said in a statement on their website.
“Barca’s number 10 will miss the match for peace in Rome this evening and will also not be able to participate in the match between Germany and Argentina.”
Arsenal midfielder Ozil did not join team-mates yesterday in Duesseldorf for the first
time since their World Cup victory 50 days ago and will fly in on Tuesday after nursing a minor injury.
“It looks very tough for Wednesday for Mesut,” Bierhoff told reporters. “Hopefully, he will be fit for Sunday.”
Ozil is one of 18 World Cup winners called up in the 21-man squad for the World Cup final rematch against the South Americans and Sunday’s first Euro qualifier in Dortmund.
“This fourth (World Cup) star belongs to the entire country and that shows that we are Germany’s team,” Bierhoff said.
AGENCIES
