Tearful Lionel Scaloni, uncertain of Argentina future, leaves World Cup with gratitude after final loss

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey – After watching his 10-man side come up just short of becoming the first back-to-back World Cup winners since Brazil in 1962, a tearful Lionel Scaloni admitted he is unsure what lies ahead.

The 48-year-old was appointed coach after Argentina crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the round of 16, amid scepticism about his lack of head coaching experience and only brief time as an assistant.

If he does move on after his contract expires in December, he will leave as the most decorated coach in history.

The 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final on July 19 followed a run to the title in the 2022 tournament and he also guided Argentina to the Copa America crown in 2021 and 2024.

“I will talk to the president (of the federation),” Scaloni said through an interpreter. “I have an idea of what I would like to do.

“I will see out my contract and I feel the need to think, as I don’t know if something as big can be done (again) and maybe we need to speak this through.

“I am thankful to the president for bringing me this chance of being in this place where I am at. At the moment, it was a dream place for everyone.

“And we’ve tried up until the very last minute to give our utmost, the staff, the players. And I believe it’s only fair that I can take this time for myself to think this through.”

Scaloni is only the second Argentinian manager to reach consecutive World Cup finals and only the fifth of any nationality. Carlos Bilardo guided La Albiceleste to the 1986 title and the 1990 final, but did not match Scaloni’s Copa America feats.

Should Scaloni continue, it would likely be with a group considerably different from the one he has coached for nearly a decade.

Lionel Messi is 39 years old and while he still had an exceptional tournament with eight goals and four assists, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s participation in 2030 feels extremely unlikely.

In total, eight Argentina players started both the 2022 and 2026 finals and it is almost certain there will be considerable turnover beyond just their most famous star.

With Argentina becoming the first World Cup finalists to fail to register a shot on target in 90 minutes, the need for regeneration was laid bare on July 19.

The likes of Nico Paz (21), Franco Mastantuono (18), Maximo Perrone (23), Matias Soule (23) and Alejandro Garnacho (22) are expected to take more prominent roles going forward.

“I would have never imagined that we would be in this place,” Scaloni said through tears. “So in order to continue, you need a great deal of things, especially resetting your mind, rebooting.

“Creating a group like this again, that is very difficult, that you can create again. And it’s really painful. I am very sorry.”

At that point, Scaloni exited to his right to end his press conference to thunderous applause from assembled press.

Earlier, Scaloni said he could have no complaints with the result of the final, which Spain dominated in possession and shots but won by the slim margin of Ferran Torres’ 106th-minute winner.

Said Scaloni: “They deserved the victory. That’s reality. We need to accept it. But we were close, to be honest.” REUTERS