| There is a common mistake that is often committed when it comes to Argentina in that they are regularly referred to as Lionel Messi’s Argentina, a moniker that does disservice to the players who are really leading the team to new heights. On a night of aggression, fouls and police batons being swung with wild abandon at visiting supporters at the Maracanã, it was one of the true heroes, Nicolás Otamendi, who stepped up to inflict the very first home World Cup qualifying defeat on Brazil in their history. To think that World Cups and Copa Américas are settled by forwards is naive. Goals win games but defences win championships, as any tea-time football email will tell you. Argentina have two of the hardest of hard men going at centre-back in the form of Otamendi and Cristian Romero, so to think Messi is more important than them is foolish. It took a pinpoint corner from Giovanni Lo Celso to find the former Manchester City man to settle the result in the 63rd minute. None of your dribbling and fancy skill that people seem so fond of. Messi is the spin doctor of the team, the man who manipulates like no one else, seeing methods that others cannot to secure the desired result, but sometimes an iron fist is required. He approached the away section when police entered before kick-off with batons swinging and blood pouring, as he attempted to calm a situation that would delay the match by half an hour as some supporters sought sanctuary on the pitch. “This team continues to make history,” Messi later chirped. “Great victory at the Maracanã although it will be marked by the repression of Argentina fans once again in Brazil. This madness can’t be tolerated, and it has to end now!!” Messi did the talking while Emi Martínez, a man who knows a thing or two about an iron fist, took action by trying to stop a police officer brandishing a baton in the melee. One assumes the police backed down once they saw Otamendi and Romero giving them the stare. Once a significant victory was secured after a tense night in Rio de Janeiro, there was another surprise in the post-match press conference when Lionel Scaloni announced he was considering quitting the world champions. “It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning,” tooted the former West Ham defender. A managerial departure can often disrupt a successful side, but few in Argentina will be worried with Otamendi and Romero producing the goods … and Messi doing bits and bobs. You can bring your fouls, batons and dinner because by the time La Albiceleste are done with you, you will need it. | 