The coach referred to his continuity with the Albiceleste after December, supported the generational change, and explained how he worked to convince the captain to play against Benin
The new path of the Argentine National Team began with several unanswered questions. While the squad prepares for friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin, Lionel Scalonifaced the media again and addressed the main issues surrounding the team: his continuity, the turnover of players, and the farewell of Lionel Messi.
Scaloni's continuity still pending
The first question was, once again, about the future of the coach. His contract and that of his coaching staff expire in December 2026, although both parties intend to sit down to negotiate an extension.
When asked about it, the native of Pujato explained that there has not yet been a meeting with the unpresentable president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, and shared why the meeting has been delayed: "There are no updates yet. I will meet with the president in the coming days. We were supposed to meet yesterday, but I had to go to the dentist and we couldn't, haha. Today he is in Paraguay. We will talk, there is maximum willingness to sit down, but when we have to communicate something, we will. For now, everything remains the same".
Scaloni has not yet met with Tapia to define his continuity in the Argentine National Team
The coach acknowledged that he wants to continue, although he clarified that there are still issues to resolve. "There is a desire to be here, but there are a lot of aspects we need to discuss with the president. Logically, after such an emotional tournament, one always rethinks things. I repeat: we will sit down to talk with the president", he stated.
Additionally, he linked his doubts after the lost final against Spain to the impact of once again being on the brink of a world title. "The blow of not having won was strong, we must acknowledge it, because we were on the verge of achieving another world title. It was tough. I have always said, and I will continue to repeat, that the place I am in now is a dream and that will not change", he affirmed.
The turnover that has already begun
With the 2026 World Cup over, Scaloni also explained the decision to make room for new names in these first call-ups. For the coach, the renewal process must begin before it is too late and he recalled that he had already used a similar strategy in 2018. "The indication of the call-up is what any coach would do. A World Cup has ended, we believe it is a nice moment for some turnover, because most will still be there and they are young people", he maintained.
In that same vein, he emphasized that the goal is for the new call-ups to earn their place over time. "We work for the National Team, we do not work for anyone personally. This is something we had to do and it can bear fruit. Everything takes time, but we have the mindset that these kids can stay", he pointed out.
Scaloni seeks to test players in the friendlies of the upcoming FIFA date
The absences of Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso in the first two friendlies also respond to that planning. Scaloni clarified that neither has been ruled out and explained: "The doors are not closed by any means, but we believe these two matches serve so that the young kids can contribute their part and can express themselves in the best way".
Then, the coach insisted: "They are people who have given us a lot. For now, they are not here, and logically in the future it will be seen. But for now, we want to see other kids".
How he convinced Messi to say goodbye at the Monumental
One of the most emotional moments of the conversation was related to Lionel Messi. The captain will play against Benin on October 6, his last match with the Argentine jersey, and Scaloni shared that he played an active role in making that match happen. "I believe that a player like him deserves that. I personally did my part. I wish to be at his farewell, and since I don't know if I will be around later, we made efforts to ensure he could be in this match", explained the coach.
Scaloni shared that he spoke personally with Messi to convince him that the moment was now and not later. "I spoke with him, I put in my effort to try to convince him that it was now, that later it was uncertain what could happen. He understood it, which is good; the AFA also did its part, the president. It’s something beautiful, nice, he deserves it. Everything that can be done now is better", he recounted.
Lionel Scaloni was one of those who convinced Messi to say goodbye to the National Team at the Monumental
The coach also highlighted the importance of the Rosario player being able to close his chapter with the national team in front of his fans. "We knew everything he was going through, and yet he put in the desire and effort to come and say goodbye to his people, to the people who love him so much. If a tribute is to be made, it should be done at this moment because, although he will never stop, later the magic may not be the same, and now is the time for him to feel that love", he stated.
