Argentina is back in the World Cup semifinal, and coach Lionel Scaloni isn't exactly sweating the small stuff — like how they got there. Or player fatigue. Or past performances. He's just happy to be here. Which, considering the journey, is a pretty reasonable take.
The team, famously led by the ageless 39-year-old Lionel Messi, has basically treated the knockout rounds like a series of increasingly dramatic escape acts. First, they edged out Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time. Then, a late comeback saw them defeat Egypt, also 3-2. Most recently, they needed yet another extra time session to dispatch 10-man Switzerland 3-1. Apparently, Argentina prefers their victories with a side of heart palpitations.
Scaloni, however, isn't complaining. "A month and a half ago, I would have taken getting to the semifinal if you had offered me that," he said, with the kind of pragmatism that suggests he's seen a few things. "So I don’t mind how we got here." Fair enough. When you're this close to a second consecutive World Cup final, the scenic route suddenly seems charming.
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Start Your News DetoxHistory (and Handballs) Against England
Now, they face England, a rivalry so steeped in history it practically needs its own documentary series. The teams have clashed five times in the World Cup, but one match looms larger than all the others: the 1986 quarterfinal. You know the one. Diego Maradona. The "Hand of God" goal. And then, mere minutes later, arguably the greatest individual goal ever scored, where Maradona basically dribbled through the entire English team.
Scaloni, like any football enthusiast, remembers it fondly. "I think everyone remembers that game, and Diego’s performance," he mused, calling Maradona's second goal "marvellous." However, he's also keen to keep the geopolitical ghosts of the Falkland Islands conflict, which preceded that game by four years, firmly in the past. "The reality is this is a football match," he stated, aiming to keep the focus squarely on the pitch, not the history books.
Stopping Kane and Bellingham
Of course, England isn't just a historical footnote; they're a formidable opponent with two rather prolific goal-scorers in Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. Between them, they've netted 12 of England's 13 goals in the tournament. Which, if you're the opposing coach, is a rather specific problem to solve.
Scaloni acknowledged the challenge, saying they're looking at how to "neutralise these great players." Whether that means a tactical shake-up or sticking with the current lineup remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Argentina might not care how they got here, but they're definitely ready for what's next. And if it involves more extra time drama, well, their fans are probably used to it by now.
