Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference about Spain, France and Brazil at the World Cup.
Lionel Scaloni held a press conference on Monday where he spoke about the team’s match against Egypt. In the same press conference, Scaloni also commented on Spain, France and Brazil. Here is what he had to say:
“Spain in five matches has gone from less to more, that’s clear. Not all of them have been consistent enough to prove they’re favorites. The World Cup is tough. The travel, the heat, the pitches where sometimes the ball doesn’t roll. There are many factors that don’t let that favoritism show enough.
“The other day, France struggled against Paraguay, beyond what Paraguay is. It’s not a normal World Cup in that regard and none have shown a huge difference. If we end up in the final, against Spain, I’d sign for it right now. They still have a path ahead and we have one more match to play.
“I watched a bit of Brazil and Norway. The difficult is that Norway is a very good team. If Endrick had scored that chance, we would be talking about something else. Brazil faced a great team.
“This World Cup has been complicated for everyone. There are no teams that have maintained what they were doing before the World Cup. There are different conditions than what we have seen in other World Cups.”
Why can’t we play 3-5-2,? That way we can have width as well
We have to navigate through these uncertainties, face the storm with courage, and still enjoy every moment of this journey. That is what supporting a team is all about.
But the current situation does call for some fresh ideas and fresh energy. Players like Lo Celso, Nico Paz, Barco, and Simeone deserve more opportunities. They bring different profiles — creativity, directness, pressing intensity, and unpredictability — qualities we may need badly in tight knockout games.
Álvarez and Enzo, unfortunately, have been among the bigger disappointments of this campaign so far. Maybe the uncertainties around their club futures are affecting their rhythm and focus, or maybe it is simply a temporary dip in form. Whatever the reason, they have not looked like the players we know they can be.
Lautaro is another mystery. After such a brilliant Copa, seeing him so far away from that level has been surprising. We know his quality, but the spark has not quite returned yet.
The good thing is that the talent is there. It is now about finding the right combination, rewarding current form, and rediscovering the intensity that made this team special. All depends on tactical finesse of Scaloni and attitude of players on the field.