Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are constructed to win with out Leo Messi

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Lionel Messi watched from the substitute’s bench as secondary captain Ángel Di María led Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Peru and first place of Group A within the remaining group stage match of the 2024 Copa América at Onerous Rock Stadium on Saturday evening.

The scene felt nearly international, given the Inter Miami CF determine has proudly worn the captain’s armband for Argentina in each main event since initially receiving the title in 2010. However after struggling an damage to his proper leg through the match in opposition to Chile on Tuesday, the teaching employees dominated out his participation for Saturday’s recreation.

Years in the past, his absence would’ve despatched chills down the backbone of most teammates and supporters. La Albiceleste trusted Messi alone to assemble within the midfield, weave by defenders and rocket the ball into the again of the web to safe a victory.

However since supervisor Lionel Scaloni took over the mission, he vowed to make an enduring affect past any attainable victory. He pledged to construct La Albiceleste right into a functioning staff that advantages from the presence of Messi, however doesn’t truly rely upon it.

“We’re engaged on making a staff, and if we even have the very best participant on this planet, which is Messi, even higher however we need to kind a stable staff that offers off the picture that will probably be troublesome to beat. That is why we’re targeted on placing collectively a staff that when Messi provides to it, is even higher,” he promised in 2019.

Scaloni could not have been on the sidelines in opposition to Peru after being sanctioned by CONMEBOL for delaying the staff’s return to the pitch through the match vs Chile, however his legacy could possibly be seen in full drive.

The primary half of the sport noticed an aggressive Argentinian aspect, reaching the opposition field on a number of events after connecting from the backline and thru the midfield to report three photographs and luxuriate in 78% possession. Gamers examined Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, forcing him to make a pair beautiful saves to maintain the scoreline at 0-0 on the break.

However the true magic kicked off within the second half, when Leandro Paredes discovered Di Maria from the midfield to provoke the primary goal-scoring alternative of the match. Di Maria solely retained the ball for a second earlier than reaching Lautaro Martínez simply contained in the field with a left-footed go, permitting the participant to combat off a defender and discover the again of the web. Supporters cheered on the stadium’s massive screens because the replay confirmed Di Maria’s go to Martinez, emphasizing the best way the 2 gamers communicated completely within the blink of an eye fixed.

Argentina got a chance to stretch the lead by a handball by Peru contained in the field, earlier than Paredes stepped up and hit the submit. Martinez then returned for a second aim, receiving the ball off an extended go from the center of the pitch earlier than weaving into the field for the right-footed shot over the goalkeeper. The Internazionale participant could have doubled the rating in a second of brilliance, nevertheless it was Enzo Fernández’s spatial consciousness that allowed him to understand the place of his teammate.

Regardless of the missed penalty, La Albiceleste proved {that a} efficiently carried out system by a collective can uplift even the gravest of errors as a result of a end result not depends upon one particular person’s effort. Argentina concluded the match with 12 photographs, six on course, 76% possession and two targets, all with out the well-known No. 10 on the pitch.

The efficiency obliterated any remnants of the Messi dependency that when reigned supreme previous to 2019. Messi’s particular person brilliance beforehand carried victories, masking the weaknesses of an in any other case struggling staff. His sole efforts and distinctive imaginative and prescient of the game propelled La Albiceleste teammates to depend on discovering him on the pitch moderately than provoke their very own goal-scoring alternative. And when Messi struggled to attain the alternatives put in entrance of him, the staff struggled too.

Throughout Argentina’s second group stage match of the 2018 World Cup in opposition to Croatia, Messi discovered himself misplaced beneath a complicated set of ways by then-manager Jorge Sampaoli. His resolution to change from a 4-2-3-1 formation to an undefined 3-4-3 left Messi muted within the midfield, canceling out the staff’s best weapon. Argentina went on to lose 3-0, unveiling the defensive flaws that Messi as soon as labored tirelessly to hide.

When Messi did not do all of it on the pitch, Argentina fell brief. And the theme typically prevailed, reflecting a scarcity of trophies regardless of collaborating within the 2014 World Cup remaining and 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals.

Now, six years after the peak of Messi dependency on the World Cup, Argentina boast three main titles and a assured 2024 Copa América run with Scaloni on the helm, Messi as captain and a functioning Albiceleste roster to reinforce his expertise.

Argentina will now put together to face an undetermined rival from Group B on Thursday at NRG Stadium in Houston for the primary knockout match of the event. Messi could return, because the teaching employees continues to observe him on a day-by-day foundation. However the staff and fan base not have to take a look at the diagnostic with worry and dependency, understanding Martinez, Di Maria and Alejandro Garnacho, who made his beginning debut on Saturday, proved the job can present depth when obligatory.

Messi’s brilliance could now be loved and admired by teammates and followers, however not trusted as the only real supply of pleasure this staff can present. The well-known No. 10 now types half of a bigger organism beneath Scaloni that can provide the Argentine inhabitants actual hope of changing into consecutive champions of the Copa América.