Online Reporter
BUENOS AIRES. – Winning back-to-back World Cups is tough. Italy did in the 30s, and so did Brazil in 1958 and ’62.
Both times they won the second tournament in their home continent.
It means that next year Argentina will be trying to do something that has never been done before – retain the World Cup thousands of miles from home, in a different continent and hemisphere.
It is a big ask. But coach Lionel Scaloni has every reason to be pleased about how his team are building towards next year’s tournament.
The Scaloni story is remarkable.
The one-time West Ham right-back landed the Argentina job after the 2018 World Cup – with no previous senior coaching experience – for one main reason.
He came cheap.
No one expected him to last long.
Instead, he brought a long, dry run without a title to a thrilling end.
Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, their first senior trophy since 1993.
And at the end of the following year came the big one, the Qatar World Cup.
The secret of his success lay in finally getting the best out of Lionel Messi in a light blue and white shirt.
On and off the pitch, the little genius became the leader of the gang, surrounded by his fan club. – The Sun
