Argentina's Lionel Messi and coach Lionel Scaloni celebrate after the match as Argentina progress to the final Reuters/Paul Childs
Doha: Four years ago, Argentina were dumped out of the World Cup in the quarter-final by eventual winners France. Reeling from that defeat, Jorge Sampaoli stepped down from his role as head coach, clearing the way for his assistant Lionel Scaloni to be appointed interim boss.
Argentina were at a crossroads; La Albiceleste had not won any international titles since Copa America in 1993. They had lost the final of the World Cup to Germany in 2014, with perhaps the best crop of Argentine players in recent history. The South Americans had three different men in charge since Alejandro Sabella resigned in 2014. Gerardo Martino, Edgardo Bauza, and Sampaoli all had unsuccessful spells.
With Scaloni, Argentina found an identity revolving around seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, but it is bigger than that. They play as a unit. The coach instilled trust between players and management, a trait that was lacking in the team. That trust seethed through the team and Argentina finally ended the 28-year drought, lifting the Copa America trophy, beating rivals Brazil by a lone goal at the Maracana.
“At first, there was mistrust. With us, with the coaching staff, it was quite difficult. Before the Copa America, we had two qualifying matches, and we tied them,” midfielder Rodrigo De Paul was quoted by Goal, in an interview with Buenos Aires-based Telefe.
“Now, Scaloni could convince us of anything. He is very detailed, and everything ends up happening because of how he prepares matches and tactical work. If it’s 10 in the morning and he says ‘good night’, then it’s night for us,” De Paul added.
Heading to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Argentina were on a rich run of form, 36 games unbeaten run and were touted as one of the hot favourites for the title.
However, a shock 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia in their Group C opener brought that run to an end. Many called the defeat the greatest upset in World Cup history, statistically. The South Americans were stunned, but Scaloni never once doubted his team’s ability to bounce back.
Always a calm figure speaking to the media, Scaloni called the loss to Saudi Arabia a ‘sad day’ and ‘difficult to digest.’
“In four, five minutes, they scored two goals, two out of two shots on goal. But we will have to bounce back from this defeat and prepare for the next two matches. We do not have to analyse more than that,” Scaloni said after the match.
“It’s a sad day, but as we always say, head held high. We have to bounce back.”
Scaloni, a right-back in his playing days, made just seven appearances for Argentina in three years (2003-2006), including at the World Cup in 2006, when he played every minute of the second-round victory against Mexico.
As a coach, his style of play may be less attractive, but it has been effective. With a squad in transition as ageing stars Messi, Angel Di Maria, and Nicolas Otamendi enter their twilight years and a combination of emerging youngsters like Enzo Fernandes and Julian Alvarez, Scaloni knows his weapons – one of which is always stressing the national team is for Argentines.
Argentina have lost just five times since the 44-year-old took charge, winning 37 of 56 under the former Lazio and Atalanta player. They have drawn 14 in the process.
“I will try not to get too emotional. It’s difficult to put into words. I’m living the dream of any Argentinian,” Scaloni told reporters on Tuesday after the two-time champions beat Croatia 3-0 to qualify for the World Cup final.
“Everyone would react like me if they were in my shoes. Whenever you play for your country and represent it, it’s impossible not to give your all as the lads do, and it’s exciting. When we go through tough moments, like when we lost to Saudi Arabia, our people back us up.
“We felt that support, and that is priceless.”
Now, Argentina are well placed to clinch their first World Cup since 1986. The players have respected the process, and even Messi heaped praises on the technical team. The chemistry formed has remained solid, showing they can bounce back from adversity.
“Well, the coaching staff radiates hope, and we’ve experienced really intense things with the national team, both positive and negative,” Scaloni stated.
“There are so many moments between the team members and the coaches to share that I think are positive. I think we have a coaching staff that lives for the national team and suffer with them, the fans, and the players.”
Scaloni is the coach who got Messi his first international trophy and could cement his status as one of the greatest Argentine coaches to have lifted the famous trophy, alongside César Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo.
