Fifa.com
On 11 July 2021, Argentina beat Brazil in their own Maracana backyard to win the Copa America for a 15th time. It was the day La Albiceleste began to fancy their chances ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, when they set off on a path that has led all the way to a sixth appearance in the final of the biggest tournament on the planet.
Seventeen months on from conquering Brazil and South America, La Scaloneta [the imaginary Scaloni-driven blue and white team van that has been adopted as his team’s nickname] is revving up its engine with the aim of winning a third world title for Argentina and repaying Lionel Messi for everything he has given to the game.
One constant in the journey that coaching staff, players and fans have made together is that they have had a very clear idea of what Argentina needed to do to progress, while avoiding the pitfalls of previous years.
Lionel Scaloni has stuck to the same approach in creating a team ethic, despite a distinct lack of coaching experience prior to taking on the Albiceleste job. His CV amounted to stints as an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla and then the national team and a few months in charge of Argentina’s U-20s.
Scaloni compensated for that with an impressive playing career, one that started at Newell’s Old Boys and which then took him to Estudiantes. Later came a switch to Spain, where he made a name for himself with Deportivo La Coruna, before enjoying spells in England and Italy. In the middle of it all he made seven appearances for his country, one of them coming at Germany 2006.
The experience he gathered as a player has stood him in good stead for the biggest challenge of his career. “From day one, it’s been our belief that the national team belongs to everyone,” said Scaloni, who hails from Pujato, a town in northeast Argentina.
“We want to give every player a chance and then decide if they’re good enough. We’ve put together a fantastic side that fights for the jersey. That’s our biggest achievement.”
Winning the Copa America boosted the confidence of the side and showed that the players were worthy of a place on board La Scaloneta. The only member of the team that started the final against Brazil and did not make the squad for Qatar 2022 is Giovani Lo Celso, who was ruled out through injury. As for the Copa America squad as a whole, only Nico Gonzalez and the goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin have missed out on the World Cup, Gonzalez again through injury.
Squad unity is a vital ingredient in the success of any team, as is an ability on the part of the players to carry out the coach’s instructions and understand their roles in the team. In Argentina’s case, there was also the need to take the positive atmosphere and sense of togetherness in the dressing room out on to the pitch.
“We couldn’t be in better shape,” said Scaloni in the countdown to the final against France.
“Our biggest triumph is that everyone feels part of this, even the fans. We’re going to enjoy these moments right up until the final starts.”
A positive dynamic
La Albiceleste could not stop winning after lifting the Copa America on Brazilian soil, which was followed by a run of 13 wins, three draws and no defeats in the lead-up to Qatar 2022, with only Paraguay, Brazil and Ecuador taking points from them.
Solid at the back and lethal up front, Scaloni’s side scored 37 goals on that run and conceded just three, with only Venezuela, Chile and Ecuador able to breach their goal.
Those statistics reflect their superiority over their opponents on the road to Qatar 2022 and their growing confidence ahead of the tournament, which began with a shock defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia, ending a 36-match unbeaten run. Since then, however, have come wins over Mexico, Poland, Australia, Netherlands and Croatia, taking La Scaloneta into the final.
The Messi factor
Since he burst on to the scene, La Albiceleste have always sought to build a team around Messi, to create an environment in which could excel and surround him with warriors ready to give their all for the national team and for him.
The No10 has won everything except for the World Cup. Now 35, he is focused entirely on lifting it, with last year’s Copa America triumph having shown the way.
The player of the tournament in Brazil, Messi scored Argentina’s opening goal of the Copa America, struck a brace against Bolivia, rounded off the scoring against Ecuador, and was a leader throughout.
And when he was not winning matches, up stepped others: Guido Rodriguez against Uruguay, Papu Gomez against Paraguay, Lautaro Martinez against Colombia, Di Maria in the final, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes… the list goes on. Every player in the team understands the role they have to play and does so to the best of their ability. The result is an Argentina side that is combative and never anything less than intense, committed and sure of itself.
The whole nation understands that it is due Messi a World Cup Trophy and will do everything in its power to achieve it. “If Messi said that this is his last match with the national team, then what better than this stage for it, whatever the outcome?” said Scaloni. “We hope to win it. It would be incredible and I hope it ends in the best possible way for him.”
Having discovered the way forward in Brazil last year, Scaloni’s Argentina could be about to complete their amazing journey in style.
