The coach of the Argentine national team talked about a little bit of everything in the preview of the friendly match against Zambia
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In the run-up to the last friendly match in the country leading up to the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni gave an extensive press conference marked by clear definitions, self-criticism and an emotional closing. Over the course of 37 minutes, the coach of the Argentine National Team addressed different key issues: from the presence of Lionel Messi against Zambia, Panichelli's injury and its continuity, to the assembly of the world cup list
.
Messi starting and the changes for the match against Zambia
First of all, Scaloni confirmed the captain's presence from the start of the friendly: “I think it's going to start tomorrow”. “The important thing is that you come and enjoy it, if you decide to come in the end. May I enjoy being in a World Cup, which is theoretically the last, I don't dare to say anything. But enjoy, there's no other word,” he added.
Messi will start against Zambia
In turn, he also announced some changes for the match against the Africans: “I also wanted to give Julián a break, because he had been playing a lot. For Nico González, who also came from an injury as welland had played a good game in the first half, it was important to give other boys the chance.”
Thinking about the next match, Scaloni anticipated an eleven with a majority of starters: “Most of the boys we know are going to play, it's the last test... the idea is that a much better known team can play.”
He also warned about the difficulty of any rival: "All teams have their good things. They are teams, they bring together the best in their country and they try to put you in difficulty.I don't trust anything that's better or worse than Mauritania, we have to be in another version, that's the reality
.”
The pain caused by Joaquín Panichelli's injury
One of the most sensitive moments of the conference was marked by the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in the right knee of the Strasbourg forward, which moved the coach: “We spoke to him and he took the trouble to come to the venue after they gave him the result, when he could have stayed at the hotel quietly. He came here and asked to talk to us. Very emotional. Everything he said was right, that he didn't deserve it.
”
Scaloni regretted Panichelli's injury
Visibly affected, Scaloni abruptly closed the topic: "He's a contagious boy, he was training very well and he sucks. That's it, I don't talk anymore
.”
The self-criticism after the match against Mauritania
The coach acknowledged that the team did not perform as expected in its last performance: “I think it's a good sign that they realized that the game was not good. It is a sign of what has been seen in recent times, a team that competes and that plays well or badly always gives the feeling of being a team. That's what we didn't do the other day
.” Scaloni was self-critical of the match against Mauritania
And he made the immediate objective clear: "Let's hope it was just that game and that the team will once again show that face that
we all know.”
His renewal with the National Team
In the midst of the process heading to the World Cup, Scaloni was also consulted about his continuity at the head of the National Team. Without giving specific definitions, he made clear his assessment of the position, although he avoided delving into the subject at this time: “What seduces me? That this place is, possibly, the place where everyone, that every Argentinian wants to be.I'm here right now. Times are not important to me, today my head is elsewhere.I know that someday, when I'm gone, I'll regret it, because it's a unique place
.” Scaloni hasn't defined his future yet
"From the moment you walk in, you realize that it's a spectacular place. Then it will be seen if an agreement is reached or not an agreement is reached. It's not important to talk about it now. How can I not be seduced to be in this place? It's a privileged place for everyone,” he said
.
The World Cup list
The coach confirmed that the runner-up has already been delivered and that the final definition will depend on performance: “The list of 55 has already been passed on to the AFA... on the list of 26 I think that in terms of percentage we are past and will have to be discarded based on
performance”.
When it came to communicating those invited, he was categorical: “When we have to give the list we will give it and without giving many explanations to the one who doesn't go, because they won't understand it.”
