Wherever you look at the AFA premises in Ezeiza, the three stars are there
.
In a wall.
On a banner.
In a column.
Even in a cone.
In the coach shirt that
Lionel Scaloni
wears when he enters the press conference room, too.
"Yesterday they gave us the clothes and it is very emotional to see them there, but the idea is to go for more,"
warned the world champion coach in his first meeting with journalists in the country after the world title won on December 18 in Qatar.
Scaloni met again with Lionel Messi and the entire squad and said that, after thanking his boys, he made it clear to them that this continues: "
When we met in the gym I thanked them again for having won the title, but I explained to them that this continues. These are days of celebration, but the National Team deserves to continue and now it is going to cost us more than ever. We need the energy to be greater because it will be more difficult"
.
Loose, smiling, Scaloni even allowed himself to be moved by the words of gratitude from a journalist.
The DT born in Pujato expressed the happiness he feels for the recognition of the people.
"For those of us who had the opportunity to walk the streets of Argentina... I feel enormous joy because the people are happy and they see us as heroes. We gave them joy and it still lasts and that's good. I like that the The players experience it on the street. Hopefully the boys can go out and see that recognition
," he said.
But he immediately put the focus on this new process that already started after the third star achieved in the Middle East.
"The message is that a new process is beginning and that those who are world champions do not have an advantage and will have to continue working because guys who are playing at a high level are coming from behind," he explained
.
And he deepened: "
That the players do not feel like the owner of the National Team
.
Their place is not forever
, there are players behind who compete to get a place and that forces them to give their best. It will not happen that they relax. The goal is that they continue at this level. Because you came out world champion, life is not over. We know that we are world champions, but that is not why we have more rights than others nor can we do what we want".
And the most comical sequence of the conference occurred when he sought complicity from those present:
"I don't wake up every day thinking that I'm a world champion. Do you (to the journalists) do it?"
he asked.
And the answer was unanimous: "Yes!"
The coach let out a laugh.
When asked by
Clarín
, he announced that he wants
people on Thursday against Panama to see those who played in the final against France on the field
.
And that he will take this friendly seriously, like the one on Tuesday in Santiago del Estero against Curaçao: "The game is faced the way we face all the games, until the final with France. The celebration and all that is good , but on the pitch we have to do our job."
The future of Lionel Messi
At 35 years old, the permanence of the best player in the world in the Argentine National Team has been a recurring theme since the World Cup ended.
The same man from Rosario revealed that Qatar 2022 could have been his last top date with the Albiceleste shirt.
But the images of Monday night in a restaurant in Palermo, surrounded by the affection of the fans who turned massively when they found out about his presence there, is something that mobilizes even the staunchest detractors that the 'Flea' could have had in other years.
"He's here to keep coming back and until he says otherwise, he'll keep coming. He's happy on the pitch and in the National Team. There's no debate on my part, you know what I think of him. What's happening to him seems beautiful to me because he deserves all that love. He needs to see that his people love him. It will stay with him forever"
, Scaloni clarified.
The absence of Papu Gómez
One of the first questions for Scaloni were the most resonant absences on the list.
One for being the only world champion soccer player in Qatar who could not be there (Alejandro 'Papu' Gómez) and another for representing the best future offensive project that the National Team has.
"The two absences are a pity, especially Papu, who
deserves to be
. His club in good judgment did not let him come. It is understandable.
We will do everything possible so that he can be with us for one or two days, even if it is, but it will depend on his club
", he indicated about the case of the Sevilla footballer, who recently underwent surgery for the injury he suffered during the World Cup in Qatar.
"We trust that Garnacho can be in the next one. He is a boy in whom we have high expectations," he completed about the man born in Spain and who chose to play for Argentina, although he is not yet 'armored'.
The debate of the best selection in history
True to his style, Scaloni did not want to enter into any controversy either.
The debate that Clarín
started
a little over a month ago about whether the Scaloneta is the best National Team in Argentine history, was first deepened by Rodrigo De Paul and then by other world champions from 1978 and 1986.
"There is no debate, it is the Argentine National Team. It is silly to think about that. If they are the three world champions, what does it matter if you are better or worse. It is not necessary. If you give me the choice, all three. And even I would put my National Team last because I am like that. It is a debate that does not make much sense. The three are champions"
, he closed.
A farewell to pure ovation
look too
Scaloni's forceful response to the call of Mateo Retegui to the Italian National Team
Argentina vs Panama, the preview, LIVE: Scaloni revealed how many offers he had before renewing his contract with the National Team
The National Team, partying at the Monumental: with Wos and La Konga, what the show will be like for the world champions
Argentina vs Panama: the police seized tickets, cell phones and money from resellers of the National Team match
