On the evening of June 30, 2018, Argentina seemed lost.
Lionel Messi experienced yet another disappointment with his selection (0 title and four international finals lost) against France in the round of 16 (4-3 defeat).
Trained by Jorge Sampaoli, the Argentinians, feverish defensively and extinguished in the game, relied solely on the sparks of the Pulga.
Four years later, everything has changed!
Messi finally holds his World Cup and has joined Diego Maradona in the legend of Argentina.
Unthinkable 4 years ago, a man has found the keys to make this coronation possible.
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The strength of this Albiceleste is undoubtedly based on its collective strength.
A group built by one man: Lionel Scaloni.
Assistant to Sampaoli in 2018, it was this former Argentinian international, with little or no experience, who was chosen to take up a group in free fall at the time.
The executives are aging, Messi at 31, but in the head of the former right-back, everything is clear.
He wants a team ready to do anything for his country and his captain.
In his first year in office, Scaloni is testing.
At the 2019 Copa America, he changed more than half of the group from the last World Cup.
With a defeat against Brazil in the semi-finals (2-0), it's a semi-failure.
But the beautiful story of the “Scaloneta*” has just begun.
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Scaloni found the recipe
The frameworks of yesterday's victory are already present.
Nicolás Otamendi, struggling against Kylian Mbappé in 2018, is still there.
It will be the boss of the defense of skies and whites.
In the middle, Scaloni installs De Paul, Paredes and Lo Celso.
A mix of physical intensity, ball control and projection that dominates the midfield.
In front, Lionel Messi has not given up, he still wants to believe in it and seems determined.
The automatisms are created and this Albiceleste begins to become interesting again.
Solid defensively, good in transition and with a genius up front, Lionel Scaloni has found the recipe.
On the occasion of the Copa America 2021, in Brazilian lands, Argentina walks to reach the semi-final against Colombia.
Pushed on penalties, Argentina will rely on their new goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Aged 28 and without any selection before the competition, it is once again Lionel Scaloni who imposes him as a holder.
He then becomes the hero of an entire country by putting on a show with two saves during the TAB session. Argentina has finally found its goalkeeper.
In the final, Argentina won 1-0 against Brazil and ended the curse.
Messi finally wins with his selection after 28 years of scarcity.
Adaptation in the middle of the World Cup
So, arriving at the World Cup, the path seems traced.
Above all, with a series of 36 games without defeat and a victory in Finallisima (3-0, against Italy, winner of the Euro) the Argentinians present themselves with full confidence.
However, during the first match of the competition against Saudi Arabia, all certainties are shattered.
Argentina lost 2-1 to everyone's surprise.
Lo Celso is not there and it shows.
Having become essential in the Argentine eleven, his absence is noticeable by the lack of binder between the middle and the attack.
Lautaro Martinez, he is barely at the forefront of the attack and does not succeed.
But Scaloni is there to fix the problems.
In midfield, the coach established Mac Allister (23) and Enzo Fernandez (21) and to replace "El Toro", Alvarez (21) was chosen.
Scaloni puts the youth in power and the rest of the tournament will prove him right.
The Argentinian midfielder becomes sovereign, dominant and shows support in attack.
From the second match against Mexico, the Benfica midfielder was decisive.
Julian Alvarez is also decisive with 4 goals scored including a double in the semi-finals.
Lionel Scaloni has succeeded in his bet on young people.
But in football, youth is nothing without experience.
Emiliano Martinez (30 years old), author of a decisive save and a stopped penalty, and the inevitable Lionel Messi (35 years old), author of a double, showed it well yesterday.
In the final, Argentina took their revenge against France and relied on these two heroes to find the way to the Holy Grail and posterity.
*: The people-pleasing team, eta = people-pleasing.