27/2/2023–|Last updated: 2/27/202310:39 PM (Makkah)
Lionel Scaloni has been rewarded for leading Argentina to its first World Cup title since 1986, by extending his contract until the 2026 World Cup, the local Football Association announced today, Monday.
Scaloni, who also led Argentina to win the Copa America in 2021, renewed his contract after a meeting in Paris today, Monday, with Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association.
And the Argentine Federation said, in a statement, “Claudio Tapia and Lionel Scaloni met to finalize the procedures for extending the contract to remain coach of the first team until 2026.”
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— ???????? Argentina National Team ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) February 27, 2023
Tapia posted on his Twitter account a picture of him with Scaloni in Paris, accompanied by a comment, “When confidence is high, communication is easy and effective. We continue to promote the national team project alongside Lionel Scaloni, world champion.”
Tapia traveled to Paris to attend the FIFA Best Awards Ceremony, where Scaloni competed for the best coach award in 2022 with Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach, and Pep Guardiola, Manchester City coach.
Scaloni, 44, has been coaching Argentina since 2018, and during his reign the national team returned to the podium after winning the 2021 Copa America, nearly 3 decades after its last title in 1993.
Then he led Lionel Messi and his companions to win the World Cup title for the third time in the country’s history and the first since the World Cup in Mexico in 1986, by defeating France in the final on penalties.
Montella scores the last penalty kick and the title is finally in possession of Messi#Qatar2022 | #World_Cup_Qatar_2022 | #Argentina _ France#WorldCupQatar2022 | #Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/ywGPAGnumh
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 18, 2022
The decision to extend the contract of the “beloved” coach of the players may pave the way for persuading Messi to reverse his international retirement decision, which he announced after winning the Qatar World Cup, especially since the Paris Saint-Germain star stated after the tournament that he hoped that Scaloni would continue to coach his country.
Messi puts Argentina ahead! Messi brings tango dancers closer to the title#Qatar2022 | #World_Cup_Qatar_2022 | #Argentina _ France#WorldCupQatar2022 | #Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Yy8xJ3sMt6
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 18, 2022
By extending his contract, he will get the opportunity to lead his country to defend the world title in the next finals scheduled for 2026 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Scaloni violated expectations and responded to those who criticized his appointment as successor to Jorge Sampaoli after the exit from the 2018 World Cup final in Russia. as a professional player.
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— Mauricio Escuredo (@mauriescuredo) September 19, 2022
And after the crazy meeting began against France, which ended in a 3-3 draw in the regular and extra time, before “Albiceleste” decided it with a penalty shootout, as the youngest coach to compete in the World Cup final since Germany’s Rudi Fuller in 2002 (42 years), Scaloni became, at the age of 44, the youngest coach to raise The precious cup since his compatriot Menotti in 1978 (39 years).
Scaloni first arrived to take over temporarily in 2018 to succeed Sampaoli, but he continued in the mission until he achieved the achievement on December 18.
#Messi He ignites it again and scores the third goal for the national team #argentina in the window #France
Argentina_France | #France _ Argentina | #World_Cup_Qatar 2022#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022#FROM | #ARG pic.twitter.com/b3kM0rYnC5– Al-Kass channels (@alkasschannel) December 18, 2022
A mixture of Menotti’s sophistication and Bellardo’s realism
His appointment after Albiceleste’s exit in the last eight against France in particular (3-4) was met with widespread criticism and rejection from those who felt he lacked the necessary qualifications.
Among the critics was the late Diego Maradona, who also coached Argentina between 2008 and 2010. Despite praising Scaloni’s character, he told the Clarin newspaper that “he’s not even capable of being a traffic policeman.”
Scaloni had no previous experience as a head coach and was only supposed to take charge for two months while the federation searched for Sampaoli’s successor.
He inherited a team that suffered a series of disappointments: losing the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and the Copa America final against Chile by penalty kicks in 2015 and 2016, which led to Messi announcing his international retirement before returning from his decision two months later.
Lionel Messi opens the scoring from the penalty spot#Qatar2022 | #World_Cup_Qatar_2022 | #Argentina _ France#WorldCupQatar2022 | #Qatar2022 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/XTZZNd21fz
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 18, 2022
For many, Scaloni’s combination of Menotti’s tactical acumen and Bilardo’s realism is what saw him lead Argentina to a 36-game unbeaten run before the World Cup, punctuated by winning the 2021 Copa America in Brazil against the host country, ending a 28-year drought and giving Messi his first. title with his country.
However, a shocking loss against Saudi Arabia in the opening match of Argentina in the World Cup (2-1) prevented it from equalizing the record owned by Italy (37).
Messi described that setback as a “strong blow”, but Scaloni knew the team’s advancement quickly and made the necessary adjustments, leading to the realization of the long-awaited dream.