Overview
- Argentina beat Bolivia 4-0 at the Mario Alberto Kempes on Thursday and coach Lionel Scaloni said the victory shows the team’s enduring identity as it enters a phase without Lionel Messi.
- Scaloni called Messi “irreplaceable” and said the squad will try to preserve its style of play through passing and collective movement rather than replace one player.
- The coach used the Córdoba match to give minutes to several young players and stressed they must be protected and nurtured as talents rather than rushed into heavy workloads.
- Scaloni explained tactical choices from the game, including starting a “double 9” with Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez, saying that formation offers different attacking balance than when Messi featured.
- A journalist asked Scaloni to press AFA president Claudio Tapia to stage at least half of FIFA‑window home matches in the provinces; Scaloni said the team will try to play more outside Buenos Aires but noted River Plate’s Monumental capacity and logistics complicate rotating venues and confirmed upcoming Monumental fixtures against Burkina Faso and Messi’s farewell to Benin while the Finalissima date versus Spain remains uncertain.