![Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Iraq - Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - October 11, 2018 Argentina fan wearing a Lionel Messi mask during the match REUTERS/Waleed Ali](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FFZ7VRNLBKYA654VAN734WCL3Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=0f792754d15bd90fed22c3eae660d645740a4715642334b4edcc33abe4479c58&width=400&height=225)
An Argentina fan wearing a Lionel Messi mask during the match against Iraq at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
An Argentina fan wearing a Lionel Messi mask during the match against Iraq at the Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
Without Lionel Messi, 'parking the bus' may be Argentina's best tactic against bitter rivals Brazil
Scaloni may have made the remark in jest, but the caretaker manager may be wary that a bruising defeat in Saudi Arabia could shatter fragile morale