Argentina no longer dependent on Messi? Only 1 defeat in 50 games, the boss is a big credit, the Premier League won the double

Before the game against Argentina, Peruvian national team coach Reynoso said: "The current Argentina national team is no longer dependent on Messi. While Messi was plagued by injuries, Argentina started with three consecutive World Cup qualifiers, and the famous journalist Bolon wrote an analysis of Scaloni's tactics and said: "Scaloni's success in building a team that relies on the whole rather than individual players is good news in the post-Messi era." ”

Without a doubt, the greatest credit of the Argentine coaching staff has been to assembling a team that plays with and not for Messi, and although Messi has always been able to solve unimaginable puzzles, the team does not depend on him.

Having a well-developed tactical system will ensure that the team will continue to perform well in Messi's absence in the future, and it will also ensure that some players are successfully replaced after they retire.

You have to take the two-centre-forward label out of your mind because Alvarez and Lautaro don't always stay in the box, they have different characteristics and complement each other perfectly. After Kevin De Bruyne was sidelined due to injury, Alvarez entered the starting line-up at Manchester City and formed a two-striker with Haaland, scoring six goals and providing three assists in 13 games this season.

Messi was unable to start against Paraguay and Di Maria was also absent due to injury, which gave Alvarez the opportunity to start, standing behind Lautaro and usually running from the right side, but can run at will, looking for attacking space.

This means that Scaloni does not need to change the tactical system, because the Argentine players have become accustomed to the team's attack starting from the right wing, which has become their "muscle memory". Molina, who plays at right-back, and Gonzalez, the left-winger, occupy the wide corridor, which brings DePaul closer to the centre, forming an iron triangle with Enzo Fernandez and McAllister.

Acting as a left-back, Taliafico often swims in the centre to protect the midfielder and Gonzalez, and they become a perfect partner. Despite his mediocre shooting skills, Gonzalez constantly creates chances and is one of the players with the most broken balls.

McAllister has established himself as a workhorse at the back, a position he fits well because of the quality of his passes, his ability to distribute the ball before two lines, and his defensive prowess. After Liverpool switched to back, he also adapted to this position in the national team. That puts Enzo back in the position he knows best, as an attacking midfielder who can go into the box to find shots.

Attackingly, Lautaro is not a stake-up centre-forward, he often pulls back to catch up, and once he does, Alvarez rushes into the box to find space.

Scaloni gives the team a unique style and character, and it's not easy to do that with the national team because the players spend so little time together. The performance in the first half of the match against Paraguay proved that when the post-Messi era comes, there will still be top players to support the blue and white.