The contrast between the dark Sampaoli and the calm Scaloni could not be greater. After the Argentines were eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, his appointment was criticized due to his alleged lack of qualifications for the position. “He can’t even direct traffic” had hit the legend Diego Maradona in the press.
Scaloni had never been a head coach before, settling for an assistant role during the Russian campaign. Initially he was supposed to stay in his place for only two months, the time to find a permanent replacement for Sampaoli. He inherited a disoriented team after the 2014 defeat against Germany in the World Cup final, the other two defeats in the Copa America on penalties against Chile in 2015 and 2016 and finally the spectacular elimination in Russia (4-3) against France , future world champion.
His first task was to bring Lionel Messi back to the national team. The “Pulga” had already briefly retired in 2016 and the premature elimination at the 2018 World Cup did not seem likely to convince him to stay there. Scaloni also brought new blood. Of the 26 Argentinian players selected for Qatar, 19 participate in their first World Cup.
For some, Lionel Scaloni brings together Menotti’s tactical skills and Bilardo’s pragmatism. “I’m very proud to have reached the final and to represent the national team but I can’t put myself on their same level”, however, he replies. But Scaloni could very well achieve what neither Menotti nor Bilardo have achieved before him: an America’s Cup/World cup double.
