Argentina “can play in the same way,” according to manager Lionel Scaloni on Tuesday, even without superstar Lionel Messi.
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ARGENTINA ‘CAN PLAY IN THE SAME WAY’ WITHOUT MESSI AMID MISSED MATCHES
Argentina “can play in the same way,” Scaloni said, without Messi amid the veteran star missing several matches the past few weeks.
Furthermore, the 47-year-old Argentinian-born manager cited the La Albiceleste’s 1-0 victory over Uruguay and 4-1 drubbing of Brazil as gauges where Messi missed those matches.
Moreover, Scaloni is confident in his lineup that the team can still play well even without their 37-year-old Inter Miami forward.
“The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change sone players,” the manager said.
“But now we don’t have the necessity and the team works in the same way, that’s good,” he added.
LA ALBICELESTE HAS OPTION TO PACE MESSI’S MINUTES AFTER FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 QUALIFICATION
Scaloni has the option to pace Messi’s minutes coming into Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier against Colombia on Wednesday.
Moreover, the manager is aware the La Albiceleste have already qualified to football’s biggest global showcase to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico next year.
Furthermore, Scaloni should be understood of managing Messi’s minutes as the veteran is coming off an injury.
This was the reason why Messi missed the Uruguay and Brazil matches, while he was a substitute in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile last week.
Messi has been carrying Argentina on his back since making his senior debut in 2005.
He had scored 112 goals in 192 appearances as he helped the La Albiceleste win the World Cup in 2022, two Copa America titles and an Olympic gold at the 2008 China Games.
SCALONI DESCRIBES COLOMBIA AS A ‘GREAT TEAM WITH GREAT PLAYERS
Scaloni, meanwhile, described Colombia as having “a great team with great players.”
Furthermore, the manager has tremendous respect for the Los Cafeteros, who inflicted 2-1 defeat on the La Albiceleste in their World Cup qualifier in September.
Moreover, he’s still looking for another faceoff against Colombia, especially since Argentina will be playing before their home fans.
“It’s (Colombia) a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble,” Scaloni said.
“We’ce analyzed it, we’ve shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It’s going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home,” he added.
