Lionel Scaloni was not a coach with a remarkable record before he led Argentina in August 2018. That was a period when Argentine football had just experienced many major shocks. They lost 3 consecutive finals in 3 years, from 2014 - 2016 at the World Cup and Copa America. The most illustrious names such as legend Diego Maradona once sat in the coaching chair but could not help Albiceleste win any major tournament.
But when Scaloni took over the team, since the Copa America 2021 final, in just 101 days, he joined forces to help his home team quench the thirst for continental titles after 28 years and world titles after 36 years. Argentina defeated the biggest opponents in the final such as Brazil or France to do that. In 2024, Albiceleste once again won the Copa America when defeating Colombia in the final.
Scaloni has turned a chaotic team into a unified bloc, turned the Argentine team into a family and in that family, everyone can cry and laugh together.
It's not easy to help a team of 30 people feel happy together, he did it" - midfielder Leandro Paredes shared. Not only Paredes, all Argentine players recognize that the victories in the past 8 years have a great contribution from Scaloni.
The 2021 Copa America takes place in the context of COVID-19 still rampant around the world. In his speech before the final match against Brazil, Lionel Messi was unafraid as the team had to concentrate in isolation with family and relatives to ensure safety.
For 45 days, none of us complained about food, hotels, or the conditions of the stadium. 45 days is a period of time we have not seen family or relatives. 45 days, Emi Martinez has not yet met her newborn daughter. We will all try together to create a historic moment in this tournament!
Those statements of Messi can be heard at any stage Scaloni has led Argentina in the past 8 years. Never before has this team been so admired by fans because everyone is fighting for each other. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul once said, Scaloni has helped all Argentine players become better to win more victories together.
For Scaloni, his relationship with the players is like brothers and comrades, not a coach with chess pieces on tactical sables. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez used this example to explain why Scaloni is the best coach in Argentine football history. For the 48-year-old coach, tactics are always very important before each campaign, but sometimes, football for him is instinct, a passionate heart and a spirit that never gives up.
When asked about starting out not as a big player as Zinedine Zidane but still winning brilliant glory in the coaching chair, Lionel Scaloni only considers himself as someone in the team collective and has nothing special.
I have never been one of the great players. I am just someone who supports current players, someone who is sincere with them in everything.
In Qatar 4 years ago, we still did not really have too much experience at the World Cup, so situations like that (match against England) were extremely difficult. However, now, the team has much more experience. Argentina knows what it feels like to be led and overwhelmed by the opponent. Therefore, at this point, the team is completely calm in the face of similar pressures that may be encountered in the upcoming match.
We always maintain calmness and of course never give up" - Scaloni shared before the final.
