It has been one year since Argentina debuted in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. It did so against Saudi Arabia. Scaloni's team lost 1-2 in their debut, generating a sea of doubts among the 'albiceleste' fans. All of them completely dissipated when Messi lifted the World Cup at the Lusail Stadium a few weeks later. Almost 365 days after that final against France, the continuity of the coach who made Argentina champion for the third time in its history is in doubt.
"I want some time to think because this team needs a coach who has all the energy possible," Scaloni commented this Tuesday, after beating Brazil 0-1 in the classic played for the South American qualifiers at the Maracaná. The coach thus leaves in doubt his permanence at the head of the Albiceleste benches to which he arrived in 2018, after the World Cup in Russia.
The coach, who crowned Argentina champion of the Copa América in 2021, renewed as coach of the albiceleste in September 2022 until December 2026. On the horizon is the World Cup that will be held in three years in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
"I am proud to tell you that we have arranged the continuity of Lionel Scaloni as coach (technical director) of Argentina until the 2026 World Cup. We continue to bet on the comprehensive national team project. There is Scaloneta for a while!!", Chiqui Tapia posted a year ago , the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and the Argentine Professional Football League.
Scaloni stressed this morning at a press conference that "this team needs a coach who has all the possible energy" and that "now it's time to stop the ball." "It's not goodbye. I need to think because the bar is very high," he added when referring to the pressures that he suffers as a coach. The last one came after Argentina's defeat last Friday against Uruguay in La Bombonera (0-2).
The coach did not give more details when asked if he was thinking about resigning. Scaloni has until September 2024, a period in which the next qualifying rounds will begin, to reflect on whether he continues to coach his players: “These players have given us a lot,” he said in this regard.
For now, the Argentine coach leaves with a victory under his belt that places Argentina as the leader in the 2026 World Cup qualifying classification. Furthermore, against Brazil, the eternal rival: the Brazilians had never lost three games until now. followed in a qualifying round and never playing at home.
