Argentina's forward Gonzalo Higuain warned on Thursday that the team "shouldn't be careless" against Panama, their next opponent in the 2016 Centennial Copa America.

"We shouldn't be careless. We have seen them to be a compact and hard team. They are physically strong, with players that play well and with space they are a team that could generate risks for us," said Higuain.

During an interview with local sports daily Ole, the goalscorer for Napoli highlighted their 2-1 victory over Chile in their opening match of the tournament. However, Higuain did add that this year it is "a very even Copa" in that "all the matches will be extremely difficult."

Higuain also said that Lionel Messi "is happy" and that after his absence against Chile "he will be the one who decides when he is ready to play."

"Great teams are playing and it is important to leave each match with three points. Leo (Messi) has to be left to recover and he will play when he is ready," added Higuain.

Argentina have gone 23 years without winning Copa America and the last time was in Ecuador 1993. The South American team will face Panama on Friday for their second match in Group D.

Panama also won their opening match of the competition 2-1 against Bolivia.

Higuain, who has taken the place of Sergio Aguero in the starting eleven, has scored 28 goals in 58 matches he has played since 2009 for his national side.

source : xinhua