‘Imagine telling Lionel Messi to pass’ - Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni uses Inter Miami star’s example to take aim at ‘remote-controlled’ modern football tactics

Scaloni, 45, has claimed we are losing the "essence of football" as tactics and analysis begin to play a larger role throughout the modern game. Using the example of Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Scaloni explained tactics can become robotic in their ways, when in some cases it is best to let players thrive on their own.

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Speaking to Marca, he slammed the overuse of modern day football tactics. "Of course, there are no dribblers. There are no dribblers because as soon as they receive the ball you say 'Pass it!'. Imagine if Messi when he was eight years old had been told all the time 'Pass it!' by his coaches, we wouldn't have him today. It's impressive. Because football has become such a big thing, everyone reads, studies, and thinks that with that they can manage. You tell a child of 7 or 8 years old to make the diagonal, to cover.... He's seven years old! Let him play ball, let him make mistakes, and when he's 14 or 15 we'll start correcting him. It's a message for the future. This is a sport and the beauty of football should not be lost."

Scaloni went on to explain that for younger players, having fun and enjoying the game is more important than tactics such as tracking runners. He added: "The clear example is with the kids. When they are 12 or 13 years old they have to play ball and have fun, and not be so much on top of them correcting them, because you take away their essence and so we will see less and less players with that carefree attitude that we used to see before."

Argentina have not been in action since their 1-0 win against Brazil back in November. Their next game will arrive in the upcoming Copa America tournament this summer, as they face Chile in the first game of Group A. Messi and his international team-mates will be eager to defend their title, after securing the trophy back in 2021.