Throughout the World Cup, Lionel Scaloni has been repeatedly asked about the legacy of his Argentina squad, particularly after their 3-1 quarter-final triumph on Saturday. As the head coach for nearly eight years, Scaloni’s legacy is firmly established, having ended a nearly 30-year trophy drought, secured Argentina’s third World Cup title, and clinched two Copa Américas. Despite the initial controversy surrounding his appointment, he is now widely celebrated in Argentina.
While Scaloni often sidesteps the query, he offered a touching response on Friday, referencing a viral video that emerged following Argentina’s stunning comeback against Egypt in the Round of 16. The clip features a 10-year-old Argentine boy exuberantly expressing his pride in being Argentine and the spirit of perseverance that embodies the nation.
“The training staff and the players, we play football to see these things,” Scaloni remarked. “Things that come from the heart. It’s incredible – a kid that age says that. If this team has a legacy, that’s what we want. That tomorrow, kids like that think that they can be here playing [for the national team] in the future.”
Scaloni’s squad has been a source of inspiration throughout the tournament, albeit at the cost of their supporters’ nerves. The team has a habit of leaving matches hanging in the balance, often surrendering leads and leaning on the timeless brilliance of Lionel Messi. On two occasions, they came perilously close to elimination against far weaker teams and faced a near disaster against Cape Verde in the Round of 32.
In their latest match, Argentina scored early, appearing to dominate against a lackluster Switzerland side that struggled to pose a threat. Messi seemed to be managing his involvement, contributing only a well-placed corner that set up the opening goal. For a moment, it appeared as though the Argentine fans could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
However, a frantic 10-minute period in the second half saw Argentina falter. A defensive lapse gifted Switzerland an equalizer from a straightforward give-and-go that should have been easily contained. Even with a controversial red card against Switzerland giving Argentina a numerical advantage, they struggled to seal the match, with Messi missing two clear scoring opportunities as the game proceeded to extra time.
It was a moment of brilliance from Julian Álvarez, who had been quiet throughout the match, that ultimately propelled Argentina forward. His beautifully struck curling shot allowed the Argentine supporters to finally exhale. The celebration reached a crescendo when Lautaro Martínez added a third goal in the closing moments, illustrating that Messi does not always need to bear the weight of the team alone.
Post-match, a throng of Argentine journalists gathered to interview the key players, many of whom described the victory using terms like sufrir and costar, which reflect the struggles endured. They felt they had truly earned this win.
“Every game in the World Cup, we are seeing that they’re like this,” Álvarez stated. “Sometimes it’s our turn [to suffer], but it’s also the same for our opponents. Tons of extra time, all of that. Whatever the case is, we know we will fight till the end. As long as we win, it’s fine.”
Scaloni added, “To make the World Cup semi-finals you have to suffer. We did it in Qatar as well … Ultimately we always find the solutions, and in the end tonight we made it possible.”
The contrasting facets of Argentina in the last two World Cups can be summed up as extraordinary talent mixed with complete chaos. In just three days, they will face their biggest challenge yet when they take on England in the semi-finals in Atlanta. This encounter rekindles one of football’s most intense rivalries, steeped in historical and political significance, featuring iconic moments from Maradona and Shilton to Beckham and Simeone, and now, for the first time, Messi will seek to etch his name into this storied rivalry.
Scaloni, perhaps mindful of the political and historical implications of this matchup, aimed to downplay its significance. However, his comments may have had the opposite effect. “This is just a football game, OK?” he insisted. “That’s what I can say. It is a football game and we will be playing against a very tough opponent with an excellent coach. And this is a football game. And that is all.”
Argentina will take on England following two grueling matches that required 120 minutes of play in three knockout games, all with only three days of rest. Scaloni believes that overcoming such challenges is what builds character. Though far from flawless, Argentina has shown resilience, absorbing blows yet managing to stay upright. The path ahead, however, promises to be more challenging than that posed by Cape Verde, Egypt, or Switzerland. If they can maintain their momentum against England, a final showdown with either Spain or France awaits.
“This is part of our blood,” Scaloni remarked. “It is part of our DNA. [These struggles] bring peace of mind. We are more experienced and we know what it feels like to be dominated by the opponent, to have an equalizer. Today we kept our composure, the team knew how to remain calm, and we will never give up.”
