Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni embraces Lionel Messi after Albiceleste’s victory in the World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands on December 9, 2022 in Qatar JUAN MABROMATA
At just 44, Lionel Scaloni could put his name on the frontline of Argentina’s great coaches on Sunday, alongside those of César Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo, who led the Albiceleste to its two world titles, in 1978 and then in 1986.
Appointed head of selection in 2018 after the reign of Jorge Sampaoli, Scaloni may, some three years later, consider adding a World Cup to the Copa America won in 2021.
The contrast between the touchy Sampaoli and the placid Scaloni could not be greater. Following the Argentines’ elimination in the round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the runner-up’s appointment had been criticized for his alleged lack of qualification for this position. “He can’t even direct traffic,” legend Diego Maradona told 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. “Pulga” had already briefly retired in 2016 and his premature elimination at the World Cup two years later did not seem likely to convince him to stay.
But the prodigy let himself be convinced by the new coach’s vision of the game and by the presence in the technical staff of former players such as Pablo Aimar, Roberto Ayala and Walter Samuel.
– New Blood –
Scaloni also brought new blood. Of the 26 Argentinian players selected for Qatar, 19 participate in their first World Cup.
“He helped reveal players like (Nahuel) Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez and (Alexis) Mac Allister, who give the Argentine team its identity, and most importantly, it gave Messi playing options he ‘didn’t have in the previous World Cup,” said Jorge Burruchaga, who scored Argentina’s winning goal in the 1986 final, a 3-2 win over West Germany, in statements to AFP.
Sunday’s final against France will be Argentina’s sixth but Scaloni refuses to confront managers who have already reached this level.
“I’m very proud to have reached the final and to represent the national team but I can’t put myself on the same level as them. I only consider myself privileged to have achieved it,” he underlines.
For some, it brings together Menotti’s tactical skills and Bilardo’s pragmatism. “Members of the coaching staff aren’t there just to make numbers. They are involved every day to learn more and put themselves loyally at the service of the players,” Menotti, now 84, said in an interview with Argentina’s Radio Miter after the semifinal victory against Croatia (3-0).
Before the unexpected defeat against Saudi Arabia in the group stage (2-1), Scaloni had led the Argentine team to a streak of 36 consecutive games without defeat, including a title in 2021 in the Copa America against first laurels Brazil conquered by selection in 28 years.
Described by Messi himself as “a heavy blow”, this defeat against the Saudis has not dissuaded Scaloni from sticking to his recipes while allowing for some changes, in particular by expanding the forward line with Julian Alvarez.
“You have to know how to keep your senses. It’s just a football match,” he said after this setback. “It’s hard to get people to understand that the sun will still rise the next day, whether it’s a win or a loss.”
As if to prove him right, five victories followed and on Sunday at Lusail Scaloni he managed to achieve what neither Menotti nor Bilardo had achieved before him: an America’s Cup/World cup double.
