According to coach Lionel Scaloni, this World Cup is a great balance, where traditional powerhouses are struggling to assert their dominance.
Coach Lionel Scaloni speaks at a press conference. Photo: AP
Defending champions Argentina will enter their 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match against Egypt after a tough game against Cape Verde. Scaloni's team had won all three group stage matches and rarely faced difficulties, but Cape Verde forced them into extra time, and Argentina's 3-2 victory was met with more relief than jubilation.
Meanwhile, France needed a penalty to overcome Paraguay in the round of 16. Spain beat Portugal thanks to a stoppage-time goal, while Brazil and Germany were eliminated.
"I think this World Cup is very unpredictable for everyone; it seems like no team is really considered a strong contender," said coach Scaloni.
"There are four or five teams that are considered the strongest, but those teams haven't shown the kind of play we expected leading up to the World Cup," added coach Scaloni.
Despite the decline in quality throughout the tournament, according to Scaloni, he was still pleased with his players' performance: “Argentina's level was acceptable. We won all four matches and I think that's reason to be satisfied. There are always things we can adjust, even after winning. This World Cup was very difficult. The travel, the heat, the pitch, the grass... sometimes the ball didn't move well. There were many factors that made it difficult to show true class,” Coach Scaloni stated.
When faced with difficulties, as was the case with Argentina in their most recent match, coach Scaloni believes his team will find a way to overcome them even when not playing well.