Lionel Messi Doesn't Decide When To Play - Argentina Football Association

Lionel Messi and Barcelona do not decide when the forward is available to play for his country, according to Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Luis Segura. The 27-year-old was left out of Gerardo Martino's first squad as Albiceleste coach for the international break in early September, with rumours circulating in Argentine media that Messi had lost interest in the national team after they finished as runners up in World Cup 2014.

However, AFA chief Luis Segura has insisted that the absence of Barcelona's No.10 from the last squad was 100 per cent fitness-related and lauded the quality of Martino's men - who defeated Germany 4-2 in a friendly at the start of the month - without Messi.

Am Proud To Be Argentina's Coach Says Tata Martino

Gerardo Martino says he is "proud" to take over as coach of the Argentina national team.
Martino takes over as coach of the World Cup runners-up just a few months on from departing Barcelona after just one season in charge at Camp Nou.

The 51-year-old was announced as the replacement of Alejandro Sabella as national team coach on Wednesday and was unveiled at a press conference on Thursday, where he spoke of his pride at taking over. Martino's first game in charge will be a World Cup final rematch against Germany in a friendly on September 2.

"I'm proud to be in this role and I must thank the Argentine Football Association for having the confidence in me to give me this job," he told reporters.

WORLD CUP: No Dispute With Lionel Messi Says Alejandro Sabella

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella insists he has no problem with Lionel Messi and claims the team captain was merely expressing an opinion when he said on Monday that he preferred to play in a 4-3-3 formation.

A Messi-inspired Argentina beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-1 on Sunday in Rio, but Sabella came in for criticism after starting with a 5-3-2 system which left the Barcelona forward isolated in the opening 45 minutes.

Messi scored his side's second goal with a glorious run and left-footed finish which went in off the post to give Argentina a winning start to their World Cup campaign, but the 26-year-old told reporters on Monday that he prefers the attacking formation used by the Albiceleste in the second half.

SABELLA: Lionel Messi Will Shine At Brazil 2014

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has urged his side to create the right climate to allow Lionel Messi to flourish at this summer's World Cup.

Messi has faced criticism in recent weeks after falling below his usual extraordinary performance levels for Barcelona, notably in the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Atletico Madrid and the 2-1 loss to rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.

Sabella is unperturbed by those criticisms, however, and is confident Messi can shine in front of the world audience when Brazil hosts the World Cup later this year, providing his team-mates provide the right assistance.