PUNCH
Lionel Messi will lead world champions Argentina in a friendly against Australia in Beijing, the country said on Monday, followed by another game in Indonesia.
The clash on June 15 at the Workers’ Stadium in the Chinese capital is a rematch of Argentina and Australia’s meeting in the last 16 of the Qatar World Cup.
Messi scored in a 2-1 win for Argentina and they went on to win the World Cup.
“On June 15, Lionel Messi will lead the Argentinian national team in a friendly against Australia in Beijing,” the South American country’s embassy in China said on Twitter-like Weibo.
Separately, the national team also announced another friendly, against Indonesia in Jakarta on June 19, as part of a summer “Asia Tour”.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said playing in China will further boost ties between the two countries after years of troubled relations.
“Football is truly the global game and for Australia to be invited to play this match in China, and against…
