Argentina May Be More Effective Without Superstar Lionel Messi

Beijing's Bird Nest stadium is a sleek, ultra-modern sporting arena. But who could have predicted that the iconic former Olympic headquarters in China's capital could also serve as a footballing time machine?

The Brazil side put out by returning coach Dunga to take on Argentina was an instant throwback to the brutally effective Selecao of 2007.

And just like six years ago, when the Albiceleste folded in a 3-0 humiliation to Dunga's men in the final of the Copa America, Argentina had absolutely no response as they went down 2-0 in Saturday's clash.

1994 World Cup winner Dunga was not brought back for his ability to inspire Joga Bonito. His teams are immensely solid at the back, defending in numbers and not afraid to give away tactical fouls should the rival show signs of advancing.

Argentina came up against a brick wall in the final third time and again, although an off-key Sergio Aguero, a host of missed chances and Lionel Messi's failed penalty hardly helped matters.

At the other end, it was a simple case of pumping the ball into the box through set pieces and waiting for the mistakes to come.

In Dunga's first spell as coach, it was the likes of the limited but enthusiastic Julio Baptista who converted; in 2014, Diego Tardelli appeared with a double to justify his inclusion over the technically superior hordes waiting in the wings. 

Argentina, on the other hand, will feel aggrieved to have lost a match where they dominated in terms of possession and territory. But Gerardo Martino's men did not do enough to win either.

The contrast between the dynamic, ruthless outfit that took down Germany in September and the pedestrian display in Beijing was stark, and it is time to analyse the reasons for that collective shift down in intensity. 

Whisper it very quietly, if you will, but Argentina are suddenly looking far better when Messi is not on the pitch. 

It is contradictory in the extreme. How can the best player in the world, a man who carried Argentina's attack to the World Cup final, ultimately harm the team effort? It is no reflection on how La Pulga played as an individual but rather his impact on a squad that is packed with attacking talent. 

Messi demands to be the centre of attention. He takes the ball in the centre of the pitch, pushes forward and looks to lay off to a team-mate, bringing a slice of Barcelona to the Albiceleste.

It can be brilliantly effective when the likes of Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, who entered off the bench, are on fire. But if those two are not firing on all cylinders, the result is a turgid, stilted game too reliant on Angel Di Maria's bursts from deep. 

Against Germany, a different Seleccion was on display. Freed from having to seek Messi on every incursion forward, Argentina utilised the length and breadth of the pitch in Dusseldorf, attacking quickly and with devastating precision. Di Maria was allowed to play further forward, and he proved why he is arguably the world's best attacking wide man right now with a virtuoso display. 

The team as a whole showed a direct, unbalancing quality that thrived on its unpredictability and use of space. Those attributes vanish when every play is directed through the magic left foot of one player. 

That is not to say necessarily that Argentina will only reproduce their best form when Messi is sitting at home watching on television. A valid option for Martino would be to insist on his captain playing further up the field, replacing Aguero as a more orthodox centre-forward. 

Ng Han Guan/Associated Press

Taking the Rosario native out of the creative process further up the field while still counting on his almost unrivalled talents in front of goal would not be an easy sell to someone who carries so much weight in the Argentina set-up, but the benefits would be clear. 

It is very easy to read too much into one game. Argentina were unlucky to come up against an inspired Jefferson in goal, and with a little more precision in front of goal, the story could have been very different.

Infantile mistakes at the back ultimately cost the Albiceleste the game, and indeed finding a solid partner for Ezequiel Garay looks a far more pressing matter given Federico Fernandez's obvious limitations at this level. 

But the choice is there for Martino. Argentina have proved that, far from wilting when Messi is missing, they remain an extremely good team.

Take La Pulga's creation responsibilities away from him, turn him into a threat in the penalty area and the entire team could benefit.