Argentina will once again be led by their talisman Lionel Messi with 16 other players from the 2022 vintage in their squad for the tournament being co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada."I think Argentina is a candidate (for the title), given our record of reaching the final six times and winning three of them," said 71-year-old Bertoni."But if we believe we will be champions again due to our name, and on what we have accomplished (in the past), that is a mistake."The thing that can really kill Argentina, is the coach relying too much on the players who won them the crown four years ago."Bertoni, who scored in Argentina's 3-1 win over the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup final in Buenos Aires and was part of the squad four years later that exited in the second round, is also worried about Messi's fitness.He has been named captain with the expectation he will have recovered from the hamstring issue that sparked his request to leave the pitch last Sunday during his side Inter Miami's Major League Soccer match with Philadelphia. "He is still a pivotal player," said Bertoni."But he is close to 40 years old (he will be 39 on June 24) and you have to see how he is physically when he turns up."He is no longer playing at the top level club-wise and also he will miss (Angel) Di Maria, who after Messi, was crucial at the 2022 World Cup."'Passage of time'