Lionel Scaloni's next era is taking shape, not by placing the weight of a nation on one teenager's shoulders, but by sharing the load between two special left-footed talents: Franco Mastantuono and Nico Paz.

Suffering remains an unavoidable, deeply embedded experience for this team; a tax Argentina always seems destined to pay before they can taste glory, or otherwise. The question is whether Scaloni can survive the next wave of it by standing still.

According to Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports, Scaloni is set to hand World Cup debuts to several squad members while resting regular starters ahead of the round-of-32 clash next Saturday in Miami.

The son of former Argentine international Pablo Paz has opted to play for the world champions despite being born and raised in Spain.

Despite Lionel Messi’s second-half introduction, the Albiceleste struggled to maintain momentum.