06 June,2016 08:27 AM IST | | AFP
Chile captain Claudio Bravo says Lionel Messi's fitness will have no bearing on how the Copa America champions prepare for Tuesday's heavyweight showdown against Argentina in Santa Clara
Lionel Messi and Claudio Bravo
Palo Alto (US): Chile captain Claudio Bravo says Lionel Messi's fitness will have no bearing on how the Copa America champions prepare for Tuesday's heavyweight showdown against Argentina in Santa Clara.
Lionel Messi and Claudio Bravo
Bravo's Barcelona teammate Messi is uncertain to line up for Argentina as he struggles back to fitness after suffering a back injury in a friendly against Honduras.
However Bravo said regardless of whether Messi plays or not, it will not affect Chile's approach to a game that is a rematch of last year's Copa America final in Santiago won by the hosts.
"Whether Leo does or doesn't play, nothing is going to change our football," goalkeeper Bravo told reporters.
"Personally, I'd prefer it if he plays because he brings a lot to a game. Knowing Leo, he will want to play, particularly this game, because it's the first match of the tournament. "But we're not going to change the way we play, we will do what we've always done," Bravo added.
