New partner of his idol Messi, Enzo Fernández is a revelation of the Cup

If Lionel Messi is the undisputed idol, the Scaloneta (nickname of Lionel Scaloni’s team) in the World Cup has a new face. Enzo Fernández, 21, made his place in Argentina’s midfield. In the match against Mexico, in the second round, when the tie was starting to unnerve the team, he entered to change the course of the match.

He scored a great goal and maintained the position for the 2-0 over Poland, last Wednesday (30). Confrontation in which the selection had a great performance.

“He came in as if he was always with that group. He has an extra gear compared to the others”, says Lionel Scaloni about the midfielder, who can be seen as one of the revelations of the tournament so far. He is one of the right names when Argentina takes the field this Saturday (3) to face Australia, at 4 pm (Brasília time), for the round of 16.

Like Alejandro Sabella, coach who took the team to the final in 2014, Scaloni finds the best formation with the World Cup in progress, makes changes and shapes the scheme. That was how Martín Demichelis and Lucas Biglia won a spot on the team in the tournament played in Brazil.

The 2022 version shows that the arrivals of Alexis MacAllister, Julian Álvarez and Enzo Fernández could change the direction of the selection in the Middle East.

Argentina, who started as a disappointment and lost surprisingly to Saudi Arabia, ended up at the top of their group.

In the coach’s evaluation, if Rodrigo De Paul is the tireless one who runs all the time to make Messi shine, Fernández offers a touch of creativity and “rebellion” that was lacking in his debut. This despite the team coming from an undefeated streak of 36 matches. Messi himself realized this.

“It’s impressive. He stood out a lot at River and he does the same now at Benfica. I’m not surprised by Enzo’s level because I had already faced him in the Champions League and I saw how he plays. He’s a spectacular boy, very humble and a very important player for us. Your great goal [contra o México] finished the game”, praised the number 10 and captain.

Argentina has been trying to find a creative player to play alongside its greatest star for some time. The work has even earned a nickname: Messi’s partner. De Paul himself was once called that. Before him there was Javier Pastore (for a short time), Fernando Gago, Maximiliano Meza, Ever Banega… The list is long.

Now is Enzo Fernández’s chance.

Against Australia, he may have even greater preponderance due to the possible absence of Ángel Di María, who had muscle overload in his left leg against the Poles. If he is unable to play, the main candidates to replace him are Papu Gómez and Ángel Correa. But there is also the possibility that Scaloni changes the scheme, climbing Messi as a false 9 and giving Fernández a greater role.

The memory of this last alternative is not good. Jorge Sampoli has not trained this tactic once, but he put it into practice in the round of 16 in Russia, in 2018, against France. Argentina ended up eliminated.

“Those who follow the national team know that I am not one to insist on the same players, I am more guided by sensations and I rarely repeat [escalações]🇧🇷 It is true that the feeling of the team was very good, as in the second half against Mexico. We don’t think about always playing with the same team”, said the coach.

The timing and confidence of the team is very different now compared to what happened four years ago. This, in part, thanks to the entry of Enzo Fernández, the boy who at 15 wrote a letter to Messi asking him not to stop playing for the national team and, now, in the idol’s last World Cup, is trying to help him become champion.

But not everyone knows it yet. On leaving the 974 stadium, the new holder was approached by a journalist from outside Argentina.

“How do you feel playing your last World Cup, Enzo Pérez?” asked a reporter, citing the midfielder who played in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups.

The 2022 cast member paused for a second.

“I’m Enzo Fernandez.”

And left.