Scaloni prepares Messi for Brazil clash with Uruguay cameo

Lionel Scaloni

, the

coach, played

Lionel Messi

for 15 minutes in their 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Friday. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner did not play for

in their last two matches as he is dealing with knee and hamstring problems but he climbed off the bench during the battle against Uruguay as a 76th-minute substitute.

Scaloni revealed that Messi was “good” and “wants to play” before the game but he said afterwards that he used the Argentine for limited minutes to get him prepared for Brazil’s clash.

"

His entry in the second half serves to get the rhythm ahead of the game with Brazil,

" Scaloni said during the news conference, when asked about Messi's cameo.

"We decided not to play him in the starting line-up because he's coming off some inactivity and the game was going to be like the one that happened."

That victory was Argentina’s first in Uruguay after 12 years and they are enjoying an unbeaten run of 26 matches as they get closer to a spot in the 2022 World Cup.

Scaloni believes that his side had won "without playing well" against Uruguay, who he thinks pushed the match to be played on their terms.

"

There are times when you can't play well because your opponent plays and proposes a type of game, and you have to adapt,"

he said.

"We adapted to the match that took place. That is a good sign as a team."

Argentina have 28 points after 12 matches and are second in qualifying, with Brazil leading the table with 34 points.

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