Current champion with Argentina, Scaloni sees the World Cup still without a clear favorite
Coach Lionel Scaloni believes that the 2026 World Cup has been marked by balance and the difficulty of major teams in confirming their favoritism. Before the duel against Egypt in the round of 16, Argentina's coach stated that the traditional title candidates have not been able to show the expected dominance.
Current world champions, Argentina arrives at the clash after going through a huge scare against Cape Verde. The team won all three group stage games and was little threatened, but needed extra time to beat the Africans 3-2, in a match that ended with more relief than celebration.
Other favorite teams also encountered difficulties. France, runners-up in 2022, needed a penalty to eliminate Paraguay in the round of 16, while Spain advanced against Portugal with a goal in stoppage time. Brazil and Germany, on the other hand, have already been eliminated from the competition.
"I think this World Cup is very complicated for everyone. It seems like there is no clear favorite," Scaloni said at a press conference.
According to the coach, factors such as the intense calendar, player wear, travel, heat and pitch conditions have influenced the technical level presented in the tournament.
"In addition to the fact that there are four or five big favorites, these teams are not showing the football we expected before the World Cup," he said.
Despite the difficulties, Scaloni evaluated Argentina's performance so far positively.
"Argentina's level is acceptable. We won all four games and that's a reason to be satisfied. There are always things to adjust, even when you win," he said.
The coach also highlighted the importance of the team's mental strength in adverse moments. For him, when football doesn't appear in the best way, Argentina needs to resort to the intensity and competitive spirit that marked the team in recent years.
"When things don't go the way we want or the opponent makes it difficult, we can resort to the determination, intensity and spirit that we have in our DNA. You can play better or worse, but when you can't play well, you need it. Otherwise, you're eliminated", he declared.
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Source: CNN