Almost exactly eight years ago, Lionel Messi stood at MetLife Stadium and made a stunning announcement following Argentina's loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final. "For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all that I can," declared Messi, leaving fans and analysts in disbelief.
At 29 years old, Messi had firmly established himself as the leader of Argentina’s national squad. His announcement came as a shock, particularly after three consecutive summers of heartbreak for Argentina: losing the 2014 World Cup to Germany and back-to-back Copa America finals to Chile in 2015 and 2016.
However, mere months later, in August 2016, Messi reversed his retirement decision, a move that would prove monumental in the years to come. Fast forward to 2021 and 2022, Messi finally broke his trophy drought, securing the Copa America and World Cup respectively, solidifying his place among the pantheon of football legends.
As Argentina prepares for another tournament, Messi remains a central figure. Remarkably, he is one of only three players on the 2024 roster who also participated in the 2016 Copa America. This transition period brought fresh talent into the fold, including 26-year-old center back Cristian Romero and the promising 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho.
A Blend of Experience and Youth
Argentina's recent performance against Canada displayed both the strengths and areas needing improvement. Despite managing 19 shots and a 3.02 expected goals tally, they underperformed, a cause for concern as they allowed Canada 10 shots on their goal. Scaloni acknowledged these challenges, indicating key areas requiring enhancement, particularly in limiting their opponent’s offensive opportunities.
Romero, alongside Lisandro Martinez, has become a cornerstone of Scaloni’s preferred center-back pairing, a fact that underpins Argentina's defensive strategies. Upfront, Julian Alvarez, starting alongside Messi, opened the scoring, showcasing his potential to take on significant responsibilities. Lautaro Martinez then added a second goal, assisted by Alexis Mac Allister, with Messi once again demonstrating his elite-level playmaking with an assist.
Scaloni’s Strategic Outlook
Head coach Lionel Scaloni emphasized the importance of focusing on the present while acknowledging past successes. “The cups that Chile won, the cups that we won … that is in the past. We are living in the present and this team knows that very well. Each match is a different history and we have to face it as it comes. Previous titles don’t change that,” he remarked.
Scaloni's strategic mindset is clear: adaptability and vigilance. “We have a very particular strategy and game plan and the opponent poses difficulties. What we do is try to adjust, try to avoid damage to our team and we will try to find the spaces, given the opponent, but the opponent will set the tone of its attack and of course, we will be cautious about that and it's valid to do so,” Scaloni stated.
Crucially, Scaloni also highlighted the importance of enjoying the moment, especially regarding Messi's continued presence. “I think that it’s very important to have him here. Everyone’s asking about the future, the past but this is the lovely present … The present is very important. What's in the past is in the past and he is enjoying his birthday. We want him to have a good time,” Scaloni added.
The Road Ahead
As Argentina gears up for the future, blending the experience of veterans like Messi with the vigor of new talents, the team's trajectory seems promising yet demanding. Under Scaloni’s guidance, the focus remains on maintaining a robust defense while capitalizing on offensive opportunities, a balancing act crucial for success in upcoming tournaments.
Argentina's journey continues, driven by a mix of historic resilience and contemporary strategy, with Messi at the helm, embodying both the past glories and the promising future of Argentine football.