Lionel Messi fans, get ready! Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has admitted that Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria are “irreplaceable”, while hinting at a new style of play for Argentina as they look to the future.
With Di Maria retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a 16th Copa America title and Messi continuing to lead the team, Scaloni acknowledged that replacing both legends is impossible.
“They are not players you can replace,” Scaloni said. “Fideo and Leo are both unique. There is no chance of finding someone to do what they do.”
Scaloni’s challenge: life without Di Maria
Scaloni praised Di Maria’s performance, calling his Copa America final “one of the best” of his career.
Despite the manager’s efforts to convince Di Maria to reconsider his retirement, the winger has stuck to his decision, leaving a void on the pitch that Scaloni knows will not be easy to fill.
“Trying to replace him would be a mistake,” Scaloni said. “We won’t find anyone who can do what he did: the width he brought, the duels, the vision of the game. It’s time to adapt and play differently because Ángel is not here.”
For Messi fans, the idea of an Argentina without those two is hard to imagine, but Scaloni’s vision could see a new approach, even if Messi’s magic will always be at the heart of Argentina’s hopes.
With the team currently top of the World Cup qualifying table, Argentina will soon be back in action, aiming to continue their good run despite the absence of Di Maria.
It looks like Messi will still have to show a lot of courage, but the future of Argentina looks exciting!
