Scaloni pleased with Argentina depth after win over Uruguay without Messi Martinez

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said their 1-0 victory over Uruguay in Fridays World Cup qualifier in Montevideo showed the depth of their squad after Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybia all missed out due to injury.

The match was headed for a draw until a 67th-minute strike from 23-year-old Thiago Almada.

“The national team is a team. When one is missing, another steps up, Scaloni told reporters.

We had some very important absentees but we have great players to go out on the field. The team is always more than just the names.

Argentina next host Brazil in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. REUTERS

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