Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference where he commented on the World Cup and England.
Lionel Scaloni held a press conference on Tuesday before Argentina’s match against England at the World Cup. Speaking about the team, here is what he had to say:
“We have plenty of desire and ambition. We need to get ack to playing football, playing with the ball, we need to be able to see the players who have led us to play great football.
“There could be some change thinking about hurting the opponent. You will know tomorrow.
“The idea is to go out with the best we have. The guys know that well.
“The team that will go out onto the pitch tomorrow is what I believe is the best. No player plays for what they have already given, if not for what they can give.
“It would be crazy to think that this is more than just a football match. The players know that very well. We are going to play a semi final of a World Cup. It is very difficult to get to a semi final of a World Cup without suffering.
“I am grateful to these guys for bringing us back to a semi final, once more, we are among the best. If we are here, it’s because we did something right.
“There is no match that is like the other. We will try to improve on things where we were not good.
“The excitement is there.
“We have to give enormous value to what we have achieved.
“Tomorrow, we are going to give until our last drop of sweat to try and get to the final.
“We have more than enough desire and ambition to achieve more. My players have always given everything on the pitch. But we must not forget to play, which is the most important thing.
“I tell the people to enjoy the moment. We have to be satisfied, excited and grateful for these players.
“We always listen to the players, they are the one’s that go out onto the pitch.
“We are wrong if we mix things up. This is football.
“The idea is to grab the ball and when we don’t have it, to try to suffer as little as possible.
“It will surprise you how this team keeps pushing forward.”
Scaloni also spoke about England:
“They have great players that we will try to neutralize.”
And about Spain making the final after winning against France:
“Spain won deservedly, they played a great match and I congratulate them for reaching the final.”
I was in such a state of tension, confusion and shock after the last match that I didn’t even feel like commenting after that. Of course, I was very happy in the end that we won, but also very concerned with the way we played during much of the normal time when Switzerland dominated majority of the normal time. In fact, Switzerland were dominating even till 5-10 minutes after the red card, after which we slowly started to regain control. Of course, we played very well in the extra time. During extra time we had 6 attackers(Lautaro, Lopez, Alvarez, Messi, Almada and Gonzalez), 1 connecting midfielder(Maca) and 3 defenders(Lisandro, Montiel and Otamendi). We essentially threw the kitchen sink at them.
So now I finally came back to comment before the big match against England. I am not even going to dissect that earlier match and give advices, even if I do have many ideas and suggestions. I just hope that we win. To me this match against England is even more of a final than the final, because if we win we are at least in the finals and Spain is the least dislikable opponent among the 3. However, if we lose we not only lose against old foes who will continue their annoying “coming home” slogans, but we also move on to 3rd place match against a team that we already beat last time. It will be pretty bad if we lose. On the other hand, if we win today I will say this world cup was at least a partial success for us.
So my only wish at the moment is that we should at least win this coming big game against England. Yes, we should play good football and win.
Scaloni please change at least .some off from player.
team like…
………………………. Emi………………………………
……. Romero.. Otamendi… Lisandro………….
…..simeone….Palicios……. Alister…..barco…
…..messi…………………………………… Alvarez.
…………………………… Paz……………………..
I have had this eerie feeling since long of a final battle between Argentina and Spain … I truly wish that happens when today we beat England. My stomach has been twisting and churning and the anxiety is continuously kicking in. I wasn’t ever as nervous playing my own matches that I get to watch crucial Argentina matches.
I have some faith in Scaloni when he says something like this. He said something similar in Argentina vs France – “that we know where to hurt them” and for the first 70 minutes it was a masterclass. Yesterday, Spain gave me similar vibe – just that they never conceded and we had an unfortunate Mbappe hattrick. Though, we won in the end.
Go ahead team – VAMOS!
De paul out Simeone in
Moline out extra cb otamendi maybe since he is scalonis prefered one
Sub: taglifico out nico in
Enzo out lautaro in (if goals are needed)
Molina/ montial in for simeone
Ladies if we have any among us and Gents, THIS is it.
I have said everything I wanted to say about this game and the history and what it means to every single ARGENTINA fan.
Expect a speech from Messi, just like the one prior to the Copa America final vs Brazil in the locker room.
Quoting the words of Shakespeare’s play from all people, “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers”
AS ALWAYS, LET’S GO ARGENTINA, LET’S GO!!!
If yesterday’s match flowed like a river, today’s match is going to be an all-out war.
It doesn’t get any bigger than this in a World Cup. For us, this is our fiercest rival after Brazil, without a doubt.
Nervous doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’ve had this knot in my stomach since morning…anxiety that just won’t let go. But deep down, I know what this team is capable of. We’ve been through so much together, and now it’s time to show it on the ground where it truly matters.
Let’s pray, hope, and believe…not just for a win, but for the team to give everything they have. No regrets, no holding back. Just 11 warriors fighting for every ball, every inch, every dream.
To all my mundo friends out there feeling the same way: we’re in this together. Whatever happens, we stand as one. Vamos Argentina. 💙🤍💙 🇦🇷🇳🇵
All the best to everyone. May the best team win-but tonight, let it be us.
Spain’s coach made a bold decision to bring more balance and strengthen the team by dropping Barcelona’s best midfielder from last season, Pedri. That change made a huge difference in how Spain controlled matches compared to the start of the tournament. They’re peaking at exactly the right time.
In our case, our Slow, Sleepy & Sloppy midfield has caused us enough problems. Just about everything that could have gone wrong during a match has already happened to us. The positive side is that this team has experienced every kind of setback, knows how quickly a game can change, and has somehow found a way out of those desperate situations. They know exactly what happens when they take their foot off the gas or get caught napping. Hopefully, everyone including the coaching staff has learned valuable lessons from those tough & desperate moments.
Additionally, three back to back hardfought, desperate wins should have reduced the fear factor, built confidence, and shown the players they can survive under immense pressure. A bit of luck is required to winning tournaments and right now it feels like it’s swinging our way! That also includes France getting knocked out!
England’s style of play also suits us better than some of the teams who we have already played. We’re not asking for a 50% overhaul of the lineup or a complete change in formation or playing style. It’s far too late for that, only Sampaoli would try something that mental. But If Scaloni can fix the midfield issues the way Spain fixed theirs, and if our players produce the two best performances of this world cup, I genuinely believe we can beat England and then Spain.
Indeed. We have been hearing for the past 12 years how this management can make “tough” decisions like not giving a chance to massive players like Dybala for the greater good of the team. That makes it even more dumbfounding to see players like De Paul, Molina, Montiel getting chance after chance despite terrible performances.
Blatant favoritism like that creates an atmosphere where players are not longer sure if good or bad performance means anything in this team. Players lose their purpose, morale and motivation.
Brazil out …happy
CRYstiano out..happy
Mbappe out…happy
We should be in Final.. this is a best chance to win the 4th…
Delighted to see France get knocked out by Spain in a thumping manner. France had no clue how to counter the near perfect passing and pressing of Spain. The fab 4 didnt even get the ball much, lol.
My gut says we will also perform pretty well against England with our possession game. Lets show the world what this team is about and the heritage of Argentina. A similar schooling for England would be nice
Spain is a better opponent for us than France as we will not be able to play as compact and perfect as spain against france. Lets also show France how to play against France!
Finalissima at the biggest stage, what more can we ask for?
I think 3-5-2 would give us better control in mid. Midfield control is the most important team and will be key to world cup victory , the more we suffer less the more will be chances of victory.
Exactly since bellingham likes to play as SS mostly. Better dropping de paul and use a cb
IMHO, there are a few tactical adjustments that could make a difference:
1. Manage the game’s physical demands better.
We’ve looked noticeably leggy after the hour mark in each of our last three matches. Whether that’s the result of an intense training load, the accumulated minutes, or the tournament schedule or the US weather, Scaloni should consider introducing fresh legs from around the 60th minute instead of waiting until the game slips away from us.
2. Vary the free-kick strategy.
Free-kicks shouldn’t automatically belong to Messi anymore. The taker should depend on the angle, distance, and shooting foot. Álvarez has shown he can strike the ball cleanly, and sharing the responsibility would make us less predictable while giving us a better chance of converting.
3. Reassess the penalty hierarchy.
Based on current form, I would consider Álvarez as the first-choice penalty taker, with Lautaro as the next option. Messi remains one of the greatest ever, but tournament decisions should reflect present sharpness rather than reputation.
4. Refresh our corner routines.
Opponents now seem well prepared for our current corner strategy. At this stage of the tournament, dead-ball situations can decide matches. We need greater variation—different runs, different delivery patterns, and perhaps even a few rehearsed corner routines—to keep England guessing.
Yes thats what i was asking after cape verde and egypth games
We have many free kick takers in alverz, almada, de paul, enzo we need to be unpredictable if its always messi goal jeeprs will predict where the shots gonna come
Similiarly i wanted Pk too to change and let messi play without pressure
Best way is to play possession based and frustrate English team then gear up I’m expecting 1-0 or 2-1 or penalties and dreaming 3-1 with Messi hattrick
“They have great players that we will try to neutralize.” — I think that’s exactly the right approach.
But the real question is: who are our Baena and Dani Olmo?
Spain didn’t just defend against France—they assigned clear tactical responsibilities. Baena relentlessly tracked and disrupted Dembélé’s flank, while Dani Olmo repeatedly cut off the supply lines through Olise and Rabiot, forcing France’s attack to lose its rhythm before Mbappé could become decisive.
Do we have players who can execute similar roles against England? And who becomes our Rodri—the player who dictates the tempo while shielding the back line? Paredes certainly has many of those qualities. But because our press often breaks down higher up the pitch, he is forced to sit much deeper than ideal, spending more time firefighting than orchestrating. The frustration visible in the recent behind-the-scenes video from the Switzerland match hinted at that tactical disconnect.
Against England, Argentina cannot afford to defend passively. At the very least, we have to disrupt the influence of Bellingham, Rice, and Madueke, because that’s where much of England’s tempo and attacking momentum originate.
The one advantage we still have is Messi. England will inevitably devote enormous attention to him. But if they conclude that his legs have not fully recovered after three draining knockout matches, they may begin to shift their focus elsewhere. That is why Argentina need others to step up. This semifinal cannot be another game where everything depends on one 39-year-old genius. It has to be won collectively.
I believe we will win today and it gonna be a mouth watering contest in final with reigning world and copa america champions vs european champions
We will
Yes, we were scheduled to play Spain at the Finalissima in Mar 2026 if not for the war tensions and failure to agree on alternate date and venue. Perhaps then , it is fated that the match between us and Spain be played on 20 Jul 2026 instead. Vamos Argentina!!!
Full of bullshit from this moron. He says he selects players for what they can do and not for what they have done. If that’s the case you have seen what some of these guys are doing yet you have used the same core all tournament.
After the 2nd half against Jordan, I thought they had one real bad half, then Cabo Verde, I thought one bad match and that we can’t do any worse. Then Egypt ran us ragged then I thought ok surely the management would have learned their lesson. But then we hit rock bottom, only divine intervention in the form of red card saved. They bullied and out played us. Now I am holding my breath fearing what else we gonna see. Argentina going into the longest miles with almost an empty tank after burning all their fuel in the last 3 matches.
You should support this team and u r not coach and its mind games. Let’s hope for the best. I’m expecting European champions vs South American Champions not all euope
I disagree with that guy’s foul language, but at this kind of “your are not the coach, the coach knows better, he is playing 69d chess mindgames” defense is also idiotic. Is giving away 2 goals per game against mediocre teams a mindgame?
Any person with functioning eyes and brain can see there have been serious problems with team’s tactics and management. Part of supporting the team would be to call out things that are going wrong.
Let’s not get carried away with the name calling, brother. We’re all unhappy with the performance, but let’s not disrespect a man who gave us four major titles and guided us to first place in the 2026 qualifiers. Even if Scaloni had gone out in the group stage, he’d still be an all time great in my eyes. Instead, he’s in the semifinals, and we still have every chance of reaching another final. His consistency speaks for itself. Just think about the dark times before 2018.
If you ask me which teams I never wanted to see win the World Cup, my answers would be in the following order:
1. Portugal (I hated the team because of one guy. I never wanted that guy anywhere near the World Cup trophy.)
2. England (It should NEVER come home. That’s it. Never, ever, no matter what.)
3. Netherlands (I never liked them for some reason.)
4. Brazil (Brazil is Brazil — our archrivals.)
5. France (I haven’t liked them since 1998.)
6. Spain (To be fair, I don’t like them either. I just wanted them to beat Portugal and France, that’s all.)
In fact, apart from us, the only teams I would have been somehow okay with winning were Germany and Italy (LOL).
For me, I’d replace Spain with Germany. But a definite resounding hell yeah no way to the rest.
I agree with the rest, but Spain has the closest attacking style to that of traditional Argentine football. Argentine football at its peak is the best of Spanish attack and Italian defense. It is no coincidence that most of our legendary players flourish in Seria A and La Liga.
Spain and Italy have always been my next favorites after Argentina. If Argentina fails, I would be happy Spain to win this time.
Spain vs france showed us that great coaches can also bottle it. U simply cannot rely on attack against a controlling midfield of spain. 2 midfielders out of which none were controllers cannot win midfield battle against the GOAT of midfield spain. Thats where the match ended spain midfiled outclassed the french midfield in other words the whole team outclassed the french.
This Spain side is far scarier than previous Spanish teams. They’re no longer obsessed with dominating possession stats. They’re just as comfortable sitting back, pressing relentlessly , and hitting on the counter . Once they take the lead, they keep the ball like masters and force you to chase them, draining your energy and frustrating you. This is probably the most tactically balanced Spain team I’ve seen.
The hopeful part is that this Spain is lot like Barcelona at club level. If Atletico Madrid can beat that style of football twice in two different competitions, then there’s no reason we can’t do the same
This Spain is a whole lot different than Barcelona. For starters, Spain doesn’t play a suicidal highline defense, and they don’t attack with that many people. Spain doesn’t even give the ball to Yamal until he is near the box for fear of him losing the ball.
Anyways, Argentina vs Spain will be on of the most boring games people have ever seen and Argentina will win 1-0 in xtra time or whatever. Neither teams will take any risks and possession stat will be 40-60 split.
Let’s just win today and win the 4th star.
France were the absolute favourites and the “lackluster” Spain DOMINATED them and won comfortably.
England comes in as the favourites in this match…let’s shock the world and silence the haters once more VAMOS ALBICELESTE!!!
Whomsoever controls the midfield will win the worldcup…Spain had full control and left France with no choice..I hope France doesn’t become another portugal…talented but wasted…
Nah france have good coaching options afterworld cup wnning coach deschamps they will go for their The ultra legend Zidane. Protugal is an unserious nation and not a foootball heritage unlike France
France has peaked since 2018 to this 2026. France only faced 1 stubborn side, I.e., Paraguay & won only penalty basis until Spain thrashed them out. 2030 is too far.
I wish cubarsi was an argentine.also wished yamal and nuno mendes was Argentine
YAMEL is over rated Paz is superior why do you wish a African us Argentinian
When he says changes means one change and it would probably be like pulling a tooth
Atlast some changes coming