‘I am concerned,’ Scaloni on Argentina’s Spain fear before World Cup final
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“If Spain leaves the hotel, I am already concerned. Once they are on the bus and they leave the hotel, I am concerned. They are a great team. Everything concerns me about Spain,” he said.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has admitted Spain’s threat is causing concern ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final, warning that the European champions present a major challenge to his team’s hopes of retaining the trophy.
Scaloni, who guided Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar four years ago, said he has been impressed by Spain’s quality and revealed that almost every aspect of Luis de la Fuente’s team worries him ahead of their meeting at the tournament’s biggest stage.
“If Spain leaves the hotel, I am already concerned. Once they are on the bus and they leave the hotel, I am concerned,” Scaloni said while speaking at the FIFA Fanatics event in New York.
“They are a great team. Everything concerns me about Spain.”
The Argentine coach’s admission comes as his side prepares to face a Spanish team that has emerged as one of the strongest sides of the tournament, combining technical quality, possession-based football and defensive discipline under De la Fuente.
The final will also see Scaloni face his former coach instructor, with the Argentine having completed his UEFA Pro coaching licence course in Spain in 2017, where De la Fuente was one of his instructors.
Despite their personal relationship, Scaloni insisted Sunday’s encounter would be purely about winning football’s biggest prize.
“He knows me personally, but he doesn’t know what I’m thinking about football,” Scaloni said.
“Both of us know how the other plays. Each team tries to attack, enjoy possession and become stronger with the ball. I hope Sunday’s game will be a good show and people will be entertained.”
Argentina will enter the final with the experience of defending champions and the presence of captain Lionel Messi, who could be making his final World Cup appearance at 39.
Scaloni described Messi as “pure history” and a football legend, urging fans to appreciate the superstar while he is still on the pitch.
“He is pure history. A legend. Reaching a final at 39 years of age is unbelievable. We must enjoy him as it happens,” he said.
However, Scaloni dismissed suggestions that Argentina’s previous World Cup final experience would give them an advantage over Spain.
“Spain is a tough team,” he said.
“They have played a Euro final and a Nations League final under Luis. I don’t think it favours us because we have played a World Cup final before.”
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