Lionel Messi is the chief, the workforce’s command middle and spokesperson however ridding their dependence on their No.10 is crucial reason why for Argentina being one win clear of their first World Cup name since 1986. Credit for that is going to the opposite Lionel, as soon as Messi’s teammate, now the workforce’s mentor and extra.
The time regardless that isn’t able, in line with Lionel Scaloni, for comparisons with Cesar Luis Menotti, Carlos Bilardo and Alejandro Sabella.
“It is true we made it to the final but I can’t compare myself to those managers. They really made history for the national team. They gave importance to wearing this jersey. I do feel proud of playing a final and representing the national squad yet I can’t put myself on a similar level to those who have made history in world football,” the Argentina head coach said after the 3-0 semi-final win against Croatia.
It was a victory fashioned by the magic of Messi who scored once and had one assist. With five goals, he is one of the frontrunners for the Golden Boot and everything from leadership, once leading by example but now assertive, to assists has had his imprint. But in forging a team that can blend skill and combativeness, one that ended Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought with the 2021 Copa America title, went on a 36-match unbeaten run, Scaloni and his support staff deserve credit. This is why Argentina didn’t give up on the team after the loss to Saudi Arabia.
There was a temporary feel to how the journey began. Argentina has left Russia their reputation in ruins and Jorge Sampaoli leaving his post as the national coach. Games against Guatemala and Colombia were due and the Argentine federation asked Scaloni, then Sampaoli’s assistant, whether he would be interested. He agreed. Scaloni and Pablo Aimar were then managing the Argentina under-20 squad. His appointment got Diego Maradona questioning the sanity of the suits in the federation.
But Scaloni had been taking his coaching badges while playing in Italy and felt he was ready. With Aimar, Roberto Ayala and Walter Samuel, he formed the core of the national team staff and began the process of rebuilding. “It’s positive that ex-players are there. They have experienced both good and bad so they can talk to the players about those moments,” he mentioned. On the Croatia bench, there have been Mario Mandzukic, Ivica Olic and Vedran Corluka, Scaloni mentioned to buttress the purpose.
“So I feel now we have a training personnel who reside for the nationwide workforce and undergo with them, with the enthusiasts, with the avid gamers.”
That staff got new talent into the national team. Emiliano Martinez, Alejandro Gomez, Cristian Romero, Leandro Parades and Rodrigo de Paul were some of them. Nicolas Otamendi and Angel di Maria were among those retained but Messi joined later. In an interview to The Guardian, Scaloni said he wanted to form the group before calling him in. And that it helped that Aimar was Messi’s idol. Aimar and Scaloni spoke to Messi in a video call, the coach said in the interview. By the time Messi joined for a game against Venezuela, Scaloni said the staff had a clear idea of how they would play and the personnel needed.
The additions made the team more solid defensively and from 2020 until the defeat to Saudi Arabia, Argentina had not trailed in a game. On Tuesday, by starting with four players who could play central midfielders, Scaloni blunted Croatia’s taking charge of that area. “Today, they put 4 midfielders to near out our sport and be competitive,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic.
“We have professional avid gamers however there are occasions when the opponent can pin you again or even outdo you in that regard and that is the reason the place the workforce resets, they roll up their sleeves,” he said on Tuesday referring to Argentina’s ability to suffer in games.
Suffer Argentina did at the start and that led to every subsequent game being “like the overall.” From Messi to Martinez everyone has said that.
Youngsters such as Enzo Fernandez and Julian Alvarez were also given the confidence to make the step up. In Doha, Alvarez replaced Lautaro Martinez, who began the World Cup as Argentina’s No. 1 striker, and hasn’t looked back.
He scored a beauty on Tuesday, latching in to a ball rolled by Messi as the captain fell. If that became an assist, it was because riding on fortunate ricochets, Alvarez went on a solo run that finished with a dink past Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livacovic. Alvarez also scored against Poland and in the round-of-16 clash against Australia.
“Julian played incredibly today, not only for his brace but also because he was outstanding in tackling three Croatia midfielders. When his wide midfielders moved up, Alvarez would step in to duel with “(Marcelo) Brozovic or some other Croatia midfielders.”
It was Fernandez who set the move going for the first goal and score against Mexico. Messi has called the midfielder “a impressive” player.
Scaloni admitted he is living a dream and trying “to not get too emotional about it” even supposing he will have been crying when Messi embraced him after the semi-final. Their dating has grown more potent through the years, Messi announcing the personnel leaves little to likelihood.
In his media interactions right here, Scaloni has been constant in speaking about reining in feelings and treating the 2 imposters of triumph and crisis the similar. He mentioned he did not approve of Aimar’s tears at the bench as a result of getting emotional may just imply dropping center of attention. And each time he used to be requested concerning the World Cup being an issue of lifestyles and demise or extra, Scaloni would indicate that this can be a sport of soccer and that both method the solar would upward push the next day to come.