ATLANTA — Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni addressed the criticism surrounding his team’s performance in the FIFA World Cup as they prepare for a semifinal clash with England on Wednesday.
“People say we’re not playing well, but that’s not the case. We must be doing something right to make it this far,” Scaloni remarked on Tuesday, refuting claims that his squad hasn’t reached its peak. “I’m thankful to the players for leading us to three titles and now to another semifinal. We’re just one step away and we intend to give our all to achieve it.”
Argentina emerged as Group J leaders after victories over Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, and then progressed in the knockout rounds by eliminating Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. Notably, the defending champions needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland, and produced a remarkable comeback led by superstar Lionel Messi, who is facing England for the first time in his career, to win against Egypt in the round of 16 after being two goals down.
Reaching the semifinal against England marks Argentina’s fourth consecutive appearance at this stage, following their outings in 2014, 2018, and their championship win in 2022 in Qatar. Additionally, Argentina has clinched the Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
“Honestly, I’m not fixated on whether we’re playing the way I envisioned,” Scaloni noted. “A month and a half ago, I would have jumped at the chance to be in a World Cup semifinal, no matter how we got here.”
“The state we’re in is irrelevant. I have no complaints, whether we’re tired or not, it doesn’t matter. We’re in a World Cup semifinal, and I’m really excited; we’re all happy. We’re focused on the match ahead and ready to play.”
When asked about the historical tensions between Argentina and England, particularly regarding the Falkland Islands conflict in 1982, Scaloni emphasized that his team’s focus is solely on the sport. He recognized the importance of respecting the past while keeping the match in its rightful context.
“This is about football. I can’t intertwine those issues, especially out of respect for such a difficult period in our history,” Scaloni stated. “It was a tragic time, but there’s nothing we can change about it. We must remember those affected, but ultimately, it is a football match, and we shouldn’t confuse the two.”
The winner of the semifinal between Argentina and England will face Spain in the World Cup final on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.