Argentina is Exploring New Tactics for the Post-Messi Era, Scaloni Emphasizes Team Football

Recently, the Argentina national team has been preparing in full swing for the World Cup qualifier away against Venezuela on the 11th. And sports website footboom posed a question: Can Argentina still thrive in the post-Messi era?

Although the 37-year-old Messi is still a member of the Argentina national team, from the perspective of the long-term development of the national team, it is necessary to go through the painful transition period of the post-Messi era.

The media cited a report by The Athletic (TA) that Scaloni firmly believes it is impossible to replace geniuses like Messi and Di Maria. For Argentina, not over-relying on any single player is indeed a challenge.

In addition, Scaloni also mentioned that our team’s strength lies in the consistency of the playing style, regardless of who is on the field. This has been the core element of the team since I took charge of Argentina in 2018.

When Messi was absent, Argentina increasingly used the flanks to stretch the opponent’s defense. Gonzales of Juventus became a key figure in the new lineup, replacing Di Maria and using his speed and physical advantages to enable the team to perform better without Messi.

The media also noted that this tactical shift was particularly evident in the match against Chile. When Messi was not present, Argentina quickly switched between attack and defense. Alvarez and Lautaro worked together, with Alvarez often dropping back to midfield as a false nine, allowing Lautaro to make use of his speed. However, due to the lack of Messi’s playmaking and organization, Argentina struggled to create effective breakthroughs in the first half.

So, how did Argentina solve this problem? The media analyzed that other players were crucial, such as Atletico Madrid’s versatile midfielder De Paul, who played an important role in this process. He contributed both offensively and defensively, exerting pressure and participating in attacks, with unparalleled creativity and the ability to create opportunities near the penalty area. However, due to the lack of Messi’s shooting accuracy, several chances were wasted. Nevertheless, De Paul should not bear this responsibility alone.

The media concluded that the Argentine team is adapting to the way of playing in the post-Messi era, exploring new tactical strategies and key players taking on new roles. As the South American qualifiers for the World Cup resume, Scaloni will maintain the team’s traditional competitiveness while accepting necessary changes to ensure their sustained competitiveness in world football.