Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni is overcome with emotion following the defeat. He leaves his future as coach of the Albiceleste up in the air.
If only his Albiceleste had played with as much passion as their coach later spoke of. In any case, after Argentina’s failed attempt to defend its title and the 0–1 loss in extra time to the new world champion Spain, Lionel Scaloni was more emotional than anyone had seen the usually stoic national team coach during the World Cup.
“I can’t take it anymore,” said the 48-year-old, his voice breaking and tears streaming down his face. And then he walked off the podium at the press conference following the World Cup final. Scaloni was genuinely moved—but in a positive way.
Just a few minutes earlier, he had already admitted through tears: “This hurts deep in my soul.” He was referring to the loss to the new champions, Spain. And he also said it with a glance toward his superstar Lionel Messi and his missed chance at a second and final title. “He’s 39 years old. Everyone here, what he’s shown is an incredible achievement,” Scaloni praised. He was referring to Messi’s performance throughout the tournament.
And Argentina’s national team coach struggled to find the right words. Not because he was at a loss for words, but because tears kept welling up in his eyes. “People can be proud of him. He’s the best soccer player who’s ever stepped onto a field.”
It’s a little “difficult to make people understand that you can also celebrate a second-place finish. But I think most people are already aware of what we’ve achieved here.”
He, Scaloni, had already cried in the locker room, “and I’m doing it again now.” Because: “It’s a great team; even the Spaniards congratulated us.” However, his team had only developed any real sense of urgency to score in the final stages of extra time in the final, with their backs against the wall. It was only the situation on the brink of elimination that woke up the now-dethroned defending champions in the heat of East Rutherford.
That had often been the case in the previous rounds as well. But what had still worked against Egypt, Switzerland, and England came too late against Spain—and was far too little anyway to really hope to defend the title. Or even just for a possible penalty shootout.
“It’s the place of my dreams”
Scaloni didn’t want to discuss his contract situation on the evening of the defeat. He said only this much: “I’m grateful that I was allowed to be the coach of this team, that I’m allowed to sit here today in this place—a place many would have wished for.” And then he cried again, and continued: “We gave it our all right up to the very last moment.” Everyone on the field and on the coaching staff. “My job is wonderful; it’s the place of my dreams, one I could never have imagined in my life.”
He said he would discuss what comes next in the near future. On the one hand, with his assistants, including former national team players Pablo Aimar, Roberto Ayala, and Walter Samuel, as well as Federation President “Chiqui” Tapia.
“We’ll have to see now if we can put together such a great group again…” He was referring to the coaching staff and the national team. Then his voice completely broke—and Scaloni left early, in tears.
