The Argentine National Team starred in one of the great comebacks of the 2026 World Cup by defeating 3-2 against Egypt after starting two goals down and qualifying for the quarter-finals. After the match, an emotional Lionel Scaloni analyzed his team's reaction, highlighted the mentality of the squad, and assured that the match will be among the most special of his career as a coach.
The emotion of an unforgettable comeback
Scaloni acknowledged that the victory left him with one of the greatest emotions since he took over as coach of the Albiceleste. "First, we made them live some difficult moments like everyone because we were losing and, even though we weren't playing badly, I think the match was always on our side. We had many situations, but football has these things", he began.
He then explained why he chose the profession of coach: "I became a coach so that when I stopped playing, I could have these emotions. Not because I like being a coach. I suffer just like all of you when I'm on the bench, but the emotions that a football match gives you are unmatched".
He even compared what he experienced to some of the most important moments of his career. "What happened today, honestly, even though it's not a final, the magnitude of today is comparable to many great things we've experienced. It's the feeling of a team that, regardless of what's happening, keeps pushing forward and trying to play its game", he stated.
In that sense, he again emphasized the psychological aspect over any tactical issue. "Football is about tactics and strategy, of course it's important, but if you don't have this part that we had today, not just today but other times, it's not enough", he maintained, before recalling a phrase that has been marked since Qatar 2022: "The famous phrase that they won't leave you stranded is true, it's literal, because it's what is noticeable and what is palpable".
"If we have to lose, I prefer to lose like this"
Analyzing the development of the match, Scaloni considered that Argentina was superior even when they were two goals down. "The match was always Argentina's. Even though they had two or three bursts, which is a very good team because I could talk only about Argentina and not about Egypt, and vice versa, it's a very good team with great players", he assured.
The coach recalled the number of missed opportunities before halftime and emphasized the message he conveyed to the team: "Besides the penalty, I think we had three or four clear chances in the first half that if the match was 2-1 or 3-1, no one would say anything. Recovering from that when you see the ball not going in, when they then make it 2-0 and when they are comfortable defending, you have to keep going, you have to keep trying. That was what we told them at halftime and also during the hydration break in the second half".
For Scaloni, the qualification was a consequence of that insistence: "It happened. It could have not happened, but if we have to lose, I prefer to lose like this, without a doubt. There are ways and ways. The team was always putting up a fight".
Compliments for Lionel Messi
The coach became emotional again when talking about Lionel Messi and assured that he continues to be an example for the entire squad: "I always get emotional. What happens is that sometimes the tears come out. They also came out in the locker room. The boys already call me 'the crybaby', but I don't care because experiencing this emotion is something incredible".
He then revealed the message he gave to his players after the match: "I spoke to the teammates for a minute. I didn't talk about this World Cup, but about what is to come in the future and, above all, to the boys on the bench, to those boys who see him and can't believe what they are seeing. They should take him as an example, without a doubt. It's something wonderful".
Scaloni explained that Messi's greatness goes far beyond his football performance: "He could have missed the penalty and that would have been it, they could have made it 2-0 and it would have all ended. But he asks for the ball again, tries again, and it gives me goosebumps because not only he, but the other teammates supported him in an incredible way. That is part of this group".
Finally, he summarized what this National Team represents: "When I said that Argentina is this, perhaps someone who is not Argentine does not understand it. But we Argentines understand that we are this. When everything is going well and when things get worse, we give our all".
Why he never lost confidence
Despite the adverse result, Scaloni assured that from the bench he always felt that the match was on Argentina's side: "No, it wasn't the match I suffered the most because I always saw it on our side, regardless of the result".
