With Argentina, Gerardo Martino Faces Lionel Messi vs. System Dilemmas Again

Argentina's superb 4-2 victory over Germany in September was, in many ways, the perfect antidote to a summer of extreme disappointment. After all, the two had met not two months earlier in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, with Die Mannschaft claiming a 1-0 win.

Nothing can erase the disappointment of losing in the final, and for many it was a last chance blown. Lionel Messi may not be at his peak in Russia 2018, it was then-manager Alejandro Sabella's final game in charge and at least four members of that squad won't be around in four years.

In any case, at least gaining a small measure of revenge against their summer tormentors set them onto the right path. A positive start under new manager Gerardo Martino was all the public could hope for at the time.

The 4-2 scoreline outlined the Albiceleste's dominance on the night, with Angel Di Maria summoning the spirit of Diego Maradona for one evening, slicing Germany's defence and midfield to shreds.

Victor Fraile/Getty Images

What should have been a cause to celebrate, though, has become a cause for concern.

Messi, Argentina's talismanic forward, was absent the evening of the destruction.

He has since returned to the fold, but to a 2-0 loss to Brazil in the Superclasico de las Americas. The 100th edition of the traditional South American rivalry saw the Barcelona man miss a penalty and drift out of the game as Brazil boss Dunga nullified him, and there have been suggestions he doesn't fit Martino's philosophy.

It brings us back to the same questions we asked during Martino's 2013-14 season in charge of Barcelona, where although Messi scored an impressive number of goals, some felt he never truly fit the system in place.

The fitness quirks experienced by the Argentinian, stopping him from pressing as vigorously as before, have worsened in matrimony with Barca's steady decline post-Pep Guardiola. He may be scoring, but he can't commit to the other side of Martino's tactics—press, press, press.

Starts	Goals	Assists	Key Passes (pg)	Shots (pg)
29	28	11	2.4	5.2

Martino won't face adversity in Argentina when installing his verticalidad schemes. He moves the ball from front to back as quickly as possible, and while that irritated the Barcelona faithful, it works just fine if you're an Argentinian.

The issue will be the energy Martino wants in his front three—evidenced by his trialing of Nicolas Gaitan and Erik Lamela as wingers—and whether Messi can subscribe to it. He could once again be seen, by some, as the weak systematic link despite his attacking brilliance.

Victor Fraile/Getty Images

Without wanting to wade too far into odd cross-comparisons, Messi feels like the Ephialtes to Martino's phalanx.

No matter the skill, no matter the style, the system comes first and Messi may not fit it.

This won't impact Argentina in thrashing the minnows, but when it comes to the big games, it could be a factor. It pulls into focus the decision to hire Martino given his past mismatch with Messi, and an interesting storyline to watch is that of Sergio Aguero suiting the central striker's role far better.

We could see Messi from the right, but it doesn't rid the Albiceleste of the energy issues. We could see him in a diamond, like how Sabella used him in Brazil, but Martino's far more rigid when it comes to basic structures.

It's a developing storyline to watch, just as it was at Barcelona. On paper, the two just don't marry, but Martino could have a trick up his sleeve.

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