Scaloni pleased with Argentina depth after win over Uruguay without Messi

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said their 1-O victory over Uruguay in Friday’s World Cup qualifier in Montevideo showed the depth of their squad afterLautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybia all missed out due to injury.

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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.

The last time the two soccer powerhouses clashed, Argentina won 1-0 at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil have selection problems of their own for Tuesday's match at the Monumental de Nunez Stadium, as starting goalkeeper Alisson, defender Gabriel Magalhaes, and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes are all ineligible to play.

The reigning world champions looked to be headed for a draw after a tense tussle against a Uruguay side who defeated the Argentinians 2-0 in Buenos Aires earlier in qualifying.