Argentina prepares for World Cup final
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni, captain Lionel Messi, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez met with the media in New York City on Friday. Their appearance comes two days before Argentina‘s second consecutive World Cup final, where they are set to face Spain on Sunday.
Many did not expect Argentina to reach this stage, particularly given the team’s experienced core and the presence of a 39-year-old talisman. However, the team has delivered a series of intense and unpredictable performances, culminating in a notable semi-final victory over England, which secured their place in the final against Spain.
Scaloni acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by Spain. He expressed his apprehension, stating, “If Spain leaves the hotel, I am already concerned. Once they are on the bus and they leave the hotel, I am concerned. They are a great team. Everything concerns me about Spain.”
Contrasting paths to the final
Argentina‘s journey to the final has been characterized by a chaotic and emotionally charged approach. Scaloni has reportedly shown emotion in every match played. This contrasts with Spain‘s style, which is described as highly organized, focusing on possession and a disciplined defensive structure with minimal errors. While Argentina‘s path has been chaotic, Spain‘s has been the opposite, marked by a lack of unpredictability.
Despite Argentina being the defending World Cup champions, and having players with prior final experience, Scaloni does not believe this offers an advantage against Spain. He noted that Spain‘s players have also competed on significant stages, including a Euro final and a Nations League final, indicating their considerable experience.
Scaloni emphasized the team’s upbringing, stating, “The best thing we have is that we’ve grown up in rough places playing ball. Playing soccer and not thinking about what other people say. The pressure stays to the side, it’s not worth worrying about.” He added that on Sunday, the team needs to “do what we’ve done since the beginning, just play ball and don’t even think about what could happen.”
Messi echoed these sentiments, explaining, “We grew up playing football with a lot of passion and with a lot of desire, all the time, wherever – in the school, the street, we played with little teams in our neighborhoods. We never thought of pressure. It always felt natural, the act of playing, of competing.” He also reflected on the nature of sports, saying, “This is a team sport, the rival always plays as well and you can’t always win. But since we were little, I learned that you lose more than you win. That made me grow a lot as a person and player.”
Messi’s legacy and the final
The significance of Messi‘s presence in the final was a key topic during the press conference. Scaloni described him as “pure history” and a “legend.” He highlighted the remarkable achievement of reaching a final at 39 years of age, urging everyone to appreciate his continued presence in the sport. Scaloni drew a comparison to Diego Maradona, noting that while Maradona is missed, Messi is still actively contributing.
The press conference in New York City on Friday, July 17, 2026, served as a prelude to the highly anticipated final match.
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Source: theguardian.com
