So much more than Lionel Messi about Argentina’s World Cup armoury

When you have won four Ballon d’Or trophies, the weight of expectation is epically heavy on your shoulders. Lionel Messi has scored just once at the World Cup finals in two tournaments, however, rounding off a 6-0 group stage win for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro back in 2006.

Yet Coral make the Barcelona superstar a firm 9/1 favourite to finally deliver on the grandest stage in sport by winning the Golden Boot. Make no mistake, though, Alejandro Sabella’s side, who are 5/1 second-favourites behind hosts Brazil, are far from a one-man team.

Such is the strength in depth in attack for Argentina – provided by the likes of Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Angel di Maria (Real Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) and Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG) – that they can afford to ignore Carlos Tevez’s claims. He has fired Juventus to the brink of a third straight Serie A title, but never received a call-up from Sabella.

All-out attack is the mantra of this Argentina team. Messi is joined by Aguero (16/1 to be World Cup top-scorer) and Higuain (25/1), with Di Maria nominally in the hole behind this prolific striking trio. They are so fluid, however, that this fearsome front four are simply left to express themselves rather than taking up set positions.

Sabella has toyed with a back three, but reverted to a flat four and two holding midfielders in the last friendly against Romania. It is this defensive six, with only really first-choice right back Pablo Zabaleta supplementing attacks, which provides the platform that allows Argentina’s star-studded forward line to do their thing.

Balance is precarious for Sabella, however. There are options off the bench in Lavezzi (40/1 for the Golden Boot), Inter Milan pair Rodrigo Palacio and Ricky Alvarez, former Liverpool winger Maxi Rodriguez and Atletico Madrid’s Jose Sosa, but there is simply no space for a midfield playmaker.

With Javier Mascherano, another former Anfield player, and Fernando Gago or Lucas Biglia acting as anchors in the Argentine engine room, it leaves Ever Banega as a substitute. The Valencia player, on loan at Newell’s Old Boys, started just five of the 18 South American qualifiers.

Argentina’s perceived weakness is in defence – at left back and between the sticks especially. There may not be anyone of the Juan Pablo Sorin vintage for the former position, with Sporting Lisbon centre back Marcos Rojo currently in the spot because he’s left-footed, but the goalkeeping berth is more cause for concern.