They are just relying on Messi
In the last World Cup in Qatar, Argentina had a decent squad, but the key difference was that Lionel Messi was in form. He was scoring for PSG and still performing at an elite level. In this World Cup, however, it feels as though they have much more to do if they are to reach the latter stages of the tournament.
The squad feels depleted, and it does not inspire much confidence among the fans, especially as Argentina will be the last team to publish their 23-man squad. Within the Argentine camp, it feels as though they are still relying on Messi to produce moments of brilliance, but the Messi magic is slowly fading, and he no longer looks like the magician he once was.
Argentina cannot rely on Messi all the time. He now plays in a slower league and does not face the same level of competition that he encountered when playing in Europe’s top leagues and the Champions League. Argentina will need some of their players to step up and show supporters that they are ready to inherit Messi’s crown and become the next Argentine footballing icon.
Several candidates could emerge as the country’s next star, but it often feels as though these players either disappear on the biggest stage or become embroiled in controversy. Enzo Fernández and Julián Álvarez are the two most prominent candidates to take over from Messi. However, Fernández often finds himself at the centre of controversy, while Álvarez can go missing in major tournaments, looking more like a national hero than a global superstar. The defence is also a concern for Argentina, as Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero are both injury-prone.
Argentine fans do not want to see either player involved in the warm-up matches because they fear they could suffer injuries before the tournament begins. If both defenders were to get injured, Argentina might struggle to progress beyond the group stage of the World Cup.
The reason Argentina has been given a chance of winning the World Cup is that Messi is still capable of producing moments of unexpected magic and could surprise many fans and pundits who believe that he has faded.
Argentina does have players who can perform on the biggest stage, but Emiliano Martínez may have to come to their rescue on several occasions during the tournament. The stage is also set for Enzo Fernández to deliver a standout performance if he wants to secure his dream move to Real Madrid this summer.
