The Copa America champions are calm, united and unbeaten in 35 matches, and many football enthusiasts owe this trophy to Lionel Messi.
This article is part of The Guardian’s World Cup 2022 specialist network, a cooperation between some of the most productive media organisations in the 32 ranked countries. theguardian. com airs previews from two countries each day before the tournament, which begins in November. 20
It is the first time that Argentina arrives calmly to a World Cup. Excited yes, but also calm. The greatest strength is the collective team, the fact that everyone works hard for each other and that has stood out many times over the past 4 years. Everyone in the team, in the organization in fact, knows his role: he is a well-oiled. machine.
The current cycle began at the end of 2018 after the disastrous management of Jorge Sampaoli, which included an exit from the knockout stages of the World Cup in Russia and disorders on and off the field. Lionel Scaloni, who had been Sampaoli’s assistant, took over in an interim foundation – along with Pablo Aimar – and the former Deportivo La Coruña and Lazio player never looked back.
His contract was extended to come with the 2019 Copa America, in which Argentina finished third, and despite everything to come with the same tournament two years later and the World Cup. Argentina did not perform well under Scaloni and there were times when the team seemed unsure of how to play, even confused, but gradually things fell into place.
vs. Saudi Arabia Tuesday, November 22, 10 a. m. Lusail Stadium
vs. Mexico Saturday, November 26, 7pm Lusail Stadium
against Poland Wednesday 30 November, 19 h Stadium 974
All GMT hours
Scaloni sidelined some players who were nearing the end of their careers and stood by his decisions to form a consistent unit that enters the World Cup unbeaten in 35 games, just two short of the record set by Roberto Mancini’s Italy between 2018 and 2021. Scaloni criticized at first, but that noise is gone now.
Part of that Argentine career included winning the 2021 Copa America, the country’s first top name in 28 years. Beating Brazil in the final at the Maracanã made the triumph even sweeter. In June, Argentina won the “Finalissima” against Italy 3-0 at Wembley with a very dominant performance.
The team has a combined revelry and youngster and, of course, Lionel Messi. Argentina goes to Qatar with the aim of winning the World Cup, it is a dream for the whole country and, above all, for ‘La Pulga’. There are many in Argentina who think football owes a World Cup to Messi.