Just as it was 28 years ago in the World Cup in Mexico with Diego Maradona, Argentina are once again regarded as a “one-man” team built around the magnificient talents of Lionel Messi. But is it really fact, or more a myth?

As Argentina face the Netherlands in the second World Cup semi-final in Sao Paulo today (tomorrow morning, Singapore time), the inevitable discourse will be how Louis van Gaal plans to stop Messi from consigning the Dutch, the best team never to win football’s ultimate prize, to yet another heartache.

Much has been made about how Argentina’s fortunes depend on Messi. But as the former West Germany found out nearly three decades ago, Argentina showed they had the personnel who proved they could step up when their star was stifled.

Lothar Matthaus, the less thuggish, obsessive version of Claudio Gentile, stopped Maradona that day, but Jose Luis Brown, Jorge Valdano and Jorge Burruchaga — his winner was Maradona’s only direct assist that day — stepped up in the 1986 final to deliver La Albiceleste their second World Cup title at the Azteca.

The current side under Alejandro Sabella is also teeming with gifted individuals such as Sergio Aguero, the injured Angel Di Maria and the recently awoken Gonzalo Higuain. Not too long ago, many were crooning about how the South Americans boast arguably the strongest forward line in the tournament, which doesn’t sound like a “one-man” team.

And in our fixation with goalscorers, we may have forgotten midfield enforcer Javier Mascherano, whose role in protecting their wobbly back four is as important, but not as celebrated, as Messi’s more glamorous exploits at the other end.

But van Gaal’s shrewdness means he is unlikely to be fixated with Messi, which is why today’s clash could be one of the most fascinating tactical duels in a tournament where the quality of football has been one of the best in recent editions, a contest between Van Gaal’s 5-3-2, which ironically was Sabella’s preferred formation before Messi et al convinced him to switch to 4-3-3.

Sabella’s inclusion of the more defensive-minded Lucas Biglia alongside Mascherano against Belgium gave Argentina a greater presence in midfield, while left full-back Jose Maria Basanta’s ability to curb his attacking instincts more than Marcos Rojo — Sabella’s first choice in that position until his suspension — gave their defence more solidity.

Those changes have given Argentina more balance to cope with Van Gaal’s conservative, but surprisingly fluid, formation. Expect duels everywhere: Mascherano versus Wesley Sneijder, Georginio Wijnaldum versus Messi and Pablo Zabaleta versus Daley Blind to name a few.

Di Maria’s absence may be seen as a blow to the Argentinians, but his tendency to embark on unpredictable, mazy runs had been criticised for disrupting their shape. With a side teeming with attacking talent, Argentina suggest they are definitely more than just about Messi.

The question is whether they will step up to help Messi attain footballing immortality the way Maradona’s team-mates did 28 years ago.

The writer is deputy sports editor at TODAY.