Scaloni says he is staying, the No. 10 waits, and Messi lands on Sunday

Argentina begins the post-Messi era in Córdoba on Wednesday night, with a coach who has decided to stay, a captain already named, and Messi's No. 10 shirt left hanging in the dressing room.

Lionel Scaloni set out all of it at a press conference at Ezeiza on Tuesday. He wants to keep the job beyond December. Cristian Romero wears the armband, with Emiliano Martínez and Lautaro Martínez behind him. Nobody takes the No. 10 until Messi's final match on Oct. 6. And Scaloni put a date on Messi's own arrival in Argentina: Sunday, Oct. 4 12.

The first match is the friendly against Bolivia at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, a 21:00 kickoff on Wednesday local time — 08:00 on Thursday, Oct. 1 in Shanghai 3. Messi sits out that game and the next, against Burkina Faso at the Monumental on Saturday. His only match of the window is the last, against Benin at the Monumental on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 20:00 local — 07:00 on Wednesday, Oct. 7 in Shanghai 3.

"I have made the decision to continue, and I have the desire to carry on working and to reach an agreement," Scaloni said 2.

His contract runs out on Dec. 31. Talks with the AFA president, Claudio Tapia, have begun and are unfinished. "There is willingness on both sides, but we have only just started talking," Scaloni said 4. ESPN reported that the two men met to negotiate an extension through the 2030 World Cup, which Argentina will co-host 5. Until the current deal expires, Scaloni said, offers from other teams will go unanswered 4.

He had left his future open after the World Cup final, a 1-0 defeat by Spain on July 19 5. The squad he has now, he said, rests on a firmer base than the one he took over in 2018. "There is a changing of the guard now, but with a more solid base than when we started this cycle," he said 4.

Scaloni closed the question of Messi's shirt number, at least for this week. "Until Leo's final match, we won't give the number 10 shirt to anyone," he said. "After that, we'll see. The idea is for someone to take it, with everything that comes with it" 4.

The captaincy is set. Romero wears the armband, Emiliano Martínez is next in line and Lautaro Martínez comes third 14. "Cuti, besides being a great player, has to take on this responsibility, and he has done so," Scaloni said. "Everyone will want to follow his example" 2.

On the XI for Córdoba, Scaloni went further than usual with one detail. "In principle Lautaro and Julián will play together, at least in this match," he said. "It's a good test for both of them, to see what they can give us" 6.

Pairing Julián Álvarez with Lautaro Martínez up front is a combination Scaloni avoided while Messi was available 5.

TyC Sports' reading of Tuesday's training gives the rest of the side as Emiliano Martínez in goal; Agustín Giay, Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Facundo Medina across the back; Exequiel Palacios and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield; Matías Soulé and Nicolás Paz ahead of them; and Álvarez alongside Lautaro Martínez up front 6. Palacios takes the place of Enzo Fernández, who is suspended after his red card in the World Cup final 5. Paz carries the playmaking load Messi leaves behind, with Franco Mastantuono the other candidate for it 6.

The group that flew to Córdoba after training was already smaller. Tobías Andrada has left the squad, and Tomás Palacios and Leonel Flores were released to their clubs — Palacios on Tuesday afternoon and Flores after the Bolivia match — with both due back at Ezeiza for their next fixtures 7.

Scaloni dated Messi's arrival for the first time. "Initially, he will come at the end of the week, after the match of 3 October against Burkina Faso," he said. "If he wants to come for that match, he can, there is no problem. But he will arrive on Sunday" 2.

Sunday, Oct. 4 is Argentina's own Sunday. Buenos Aires runs 11 hours behind Shanghai, so that day begins at 11:00 on Sunday morning in Shanghai and ends at 11:00 on Monday, which gives Messi the two days before the Benin match in Buenos Aires 2.

The AFA will run a Fan Fest called "Gracias, Leo" on Oct. 6 at the UBA's Ciudad Universitaria sports ground in Buenos Aires, from noon to midnight local time — 23:00 on Oct. 6 to 11:00 on Oct. 7 in Shanghai 8. The Argentina–Benin match goes out there on a giant screen; Kapanga plays at 18:30 and La T y La M at 19:30; Sergio "Goyco" Goycochea hosts; and visitors can have their picture taken with the World Cup, the Copa América and the Finalissima trophies. Tickets go through Deportick 8.

Ángel Di María has confirmed he will be at the Monumental, watching from a box 9. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will miss the night. Roma said it would release neither man, citing "sporting and logistical reasons" tied to the length of the intercontinental trip and its own coming fixtures, though both sit outside Scaloni's squad and both had been invited as guests 9. Molina is serving a FIFA suspension over the incidents at the World Cup final 9.

Argentina's first two friendlies of the window both start at 21:00 local, 08:00 the next morning in Shanghai; the farewell starts an hour earlier 3. Inter Miami's next match kicks off at 19:30 ET on Oct. 10, which is 07:30 on Oct. 11 in Shanghai 10.