"We are ready to face Brazil", affirmed Messi

«We are ready to face Brazil,» Lionel Messi said after Argentina reached the semi-final on Friday by beating Venezuela 2-0. Messi once again criticized the state of the pitches of the stadiums that hold the Copa America.

Regarding the game between the two football superpowers of the continent next Tuesday in Belo Horizonte, Messi said: «It is difficult to have a favorite between Argentina and Brazil, and even more in this Copa America, where anyone can beat anyone.»

«We respect them, we know what Brazil means, more being host of the Copa America, they have make a big effort so far, they suffered to get into the semifinals, but they have outstanding players,» he added.

After achieving the qualification against Venezuela, Messi affirmed: «We are ready to face Brazil, but we have to be very focused on what is coming.»

– «It’s not been my best tournament»

Surprisingly, the ’10’, which seeks its first title with the «Albiceleste», admitted that it has not been his best tournament: «So far, I am not at my best in this Copa América.»

Despite that, he stressed that «there is a very good group of boys, beyond football» and that «at the human level a very nice group has been built.»

Regarding the coach Lionel Scaloni, Messi said that «I see him very united with his coaching staff and with us. We have a goal and we plan to achieve it progressively.»

On the game against Venezuela, Messi said it was a «very complete match, defensively we had no problems and the team was very good in all of the sides.»

«We started very well, managing the ball well and got to score. In the second half we knew that they were going to come looking for tie the game meanwhile leaving some space that we could take advantage. They had a little bit more the ball, but they did not create many chances. They had only one and we had even more in the counter attack» Messi concluded.