Argentina thrash Bolivia 4-0 in first match without Lionel Messi

More than two months after losing the World Cup final to Spain, Argentina were back on a pitch. For the first time without Lionel Messi, who will soon retire from international football, the Albiceleste beat Bolivia 4-0 in Córdoba on Wednesday night.

Emiliano Martínez kept a clean sheet for the first time in seven matches. Cristian Romero, with a header, and José Manuel Lopez added the last two goals after the break.

Pressing did the work

Foot Mercato’s Dahbia Hattabi describes Lionel Scaloni’s men setting up relentless pressing while staying efficient in front of goal. The game fits in that mechanism: the Argentine block shuts down Bolivia’s build-up, and every recovery moves forward at pace. Lautaro Martínez opened the scoring with a powerful strike in the 19th minute, Nico Paz followed ten minutes later, and the contest was over by half-time.

The Monumental already awaits Messi

The schedule says the rest: Burkina Faso on 3 October, then Benin four days later at the Monumental. So Foot expects that match against Benin to be “Lionel Messi’s farewell to the Argentine national team, the real one this time”. Bolivia was the rehearsal; Benin will be the ceremony.

Four goals scored, none conceded: the post-Messi era starts without an attacking void.