Why Argentina Should Not Risk Lionel Messi Against Panama

As Lionel Messi continues his recovery from a back injury, the whole of Argentina waits to see how their captain and talisman's health is progressing. But regardless of La Pulga's physical state on Friday, the Albiceleste would be best served leaving him on the bench against Panama. 

It is always a rather incongruous sight to see Messi out of the action. When on the pitch, the Barcelona man craves contact with the ball, dropping deep and drifting continually from his post on the right to link up with his colleagues. 

Just like Diego Maradona in his heyday 30 years ago, his compact figure only looks complete when it is accompanied by the gleaming white sphere tethered effortlessly to his left boot, as he weaves in and out of puzzled markers with the glee of a schoolboy tormenting his peers. But the captain was forced to observe on Monday, as Argentina spluttered before finally moving up the gears to take down Chile. 

It has been a tough tournament so far for the biggest names of South American football. Neymar, of course, is not part of the Brazil squad, although he has been caught on camera more than once revelling in his status as the Selecao's No. 1 fan stateside. Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez has also yet to make an appearance in the U.S. as the Uruguay hitman recovers from his own injury problems. 

James Rodriguez, meanwhile, sparked fears when he was taken off in pain during Colombia's 2-0 opening-day win over the hosts, as MLS Soccer reported.

That proved to be a false alarm; the Real Madrid playmaker linked up brilliantly with Edwin Cardona to take down Paraguay on Tuesday, and his Exocet left-footed finish to mark the Cafeteros' second of the evening betrayed the tension before kick-off as his presence remained a mystery.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

Messi, for his part, looked relaxed in Santa Clara, California, perhaps unsurprisingly after a nightmare 10 days. After picking up the painful knock in Honduras, the No. 10 was given precious little time to rest as he flew back to Spain on prosecutors' orders before enduring another gruelling transatlantic flight.

His progress has been slow since that match, but on the evidence of the 2-1 win over Chile, his team-mates should be able to see off the challenge of Panama without his unique talents. 

The Albiceleste orchestra took time to find its pitch without the maestro conducting. Early on, there were more than a few short circuits as Angel Di Maria struggled to moderate his movements and Gonzalo Higuain cut a frustrated figure in the area, barely more involved in proceedings than Messi himself. 

After half-time, however, the side made the necessary changes. Having been drawn far too deep in order to check Chile's dangerous counters, Ever Banega moved up the field to link up directly with Di Maria and Gaitan and take on La Pulga's creative mantle. Banega carried out the role with some success, and he even bagged a rare goal to likely cement his place in the starting lineup for the rest of the Copa. 

Di Maria, meanwhile, started to resist his natural inclination to charge to the byline and see what happens next. As so often with the Paris Saint-Germain star, that self-control proved the difference between a mediocre performance and a delightful one, aptly summed up respectively in each half.

The winger netted one and assisted Banega for the other, similarly demonstrating he was ready and willing to take on more team responsibilities without Messi. 

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

More than revenge over Chile for that final defeat nearly 12 months ago, the win was a shot of confidence for the nation. The captain is indispensable to the Albiceleste's plans, of course, but after his last injury was the forerunner for a disastrous start to the team's World Cup qualifying campaign, any sign Argentina do not rely on the record-breaker is good news indeed.

"The expectation is that in four days Messi is in a position to play," coach Gerardo Martino said after that game in a press conference. But those assurances were quickly countered the following day, when both Messi and Lucas Biglia, as reported by Stefan Coerts of Goal, trained apart from the rest of the side because of their respective injuries. 

John Raoux/Associated Press

Now the Canaleros loom, an encounter that holds far fewer concerns for the Albiceleste than that opener against the reigning Copa champions. Panama fought hard to beat Bolivia and could well have won by a more comfortable margin than the 2-1 result suggests. 

They are a fast, physical side that will look to attack Argentina out wide, in a similar fashion to Chile as Alexis Sanchez drifted out to the right in order to punch holes in the defence. In the evergreen Blas Perez, moreover, they have a striker who is no stranger to top-level South American competition and who has started the Copa in cracking form. 

On paper, though, there should only be one winner on Friday, Messi or no Messi. The calls from Chicago's Soldier Field will almost certainly urge Martino to put on his recovering captain, as an impatient Santa Clara audience exhorted on Monday, but there is no reason to rush him back into action.

Argentina's inspiration and the best player in the world will be needed later in this Copa America, and the Albiceleste should make full use of this rest to ensure he explodes into the tournament when it reaches its decisive stages.

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