Argentina starts preparation to the 2011 Copa America with Messi in the squad

BUENOS AIRES, June 8, 2011 (AFP) – The Argentinean national team, with its biggest star Lionel Messi, started today the preparation to the 2011 Copa America, that starts on July 1st, with all the pressure to the hostess to win at home after 18 years without a professional title.
The coach Sergio Batista tried to take off the team’s pressure saying he does not consider a failure if Argentina does not win the title as the hostess, since the team does not win the world’s most old tournament of countries since 1993.
“We are committed to win and we really want that to happen, but I won’t consider a failure if we don’t”, said Batista right after arriving a day late in Buenos Aires because of the flight cancelations in Brazil, due to the Chilean Puyehue volcano.
Batista headed directly to the AFA’s training center, next to the Ezeiza international airport, and already coached the first training, with closed doors, after the criticized losses in the friendly matches with Under-25 players.

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