The Argentine national team returned to training with an eye on the second match against Austria. Amid a day shaken by irresponsibility and misinformation, the most beautiful image came at seven in the evening Argentine time: Lionel Messi was at training in Kansas, with a ball at his feet, playing around and training with his teammates. That group that has so often sheltered him continues to embrace him. It was the star himself who said it after the match against Algeria: ‘I am grateful to the delegation and my teammates because they are by my side.’
In recent weeks, social media has been flooded with videos of Lionel Scaloni talking about tactics and strategy ahead of the World Cup. But it was journalist Roberto Parrottino who hit the nail on the head: ‘Lionel Scaloni is a socio-affective coach.’ Through his threads, which have gone viral recently, you can see various snippets where the coach himself talks about how important the group is to his team. In one of them, the coach said: ‘In times of difficulty, it’s your teammate who pulls you through. We always say that if you get along better with the person next to you, things will be easier. When it affects someone you care about, it affects everyone, and that’s a good thing. Some might say it has nothing to do with football, but I believe it does, because you can go out on the pitch with that teammate who feels things the same way you do. I am convinced that gives you an extra edge: if you get along better with the person next to you.’
Last Tuesday, after the match against Algeria, Lionel Messi broke down as he had already done on the pitch. He said something in front of the cameras that very few knew: that he was going through a tough time. But also, in the same press conference, he stated: ‘I am grateful to the delegation and my teammates because they are by my side.’ It is the same group that broke down the barriers of shyness. Rodrigo De Paul has recounted on several occasions that, during the first training camp he shared with Messi when Lionel Scaloni was already coach, he approached the room, knocked on the door, and, full of doubt, said: ‘Hey, Lionel, do you want to have some mate in the room?’ Next to him was Leandro Paredes. With a couple of questions, something that hindered the relationship was broken, and that barrier was destroyed. They went to the room to have some bitter mate, like at the club, like in the neighborhood.
It is the same group that on July 10, 2021, at the moment of the final whistle at the Maracanã, after Ángel Di María’s goal, ran out to embrace him when they won the Copa América. The image is clear. Everyone went after him. Back then, everyone wanted to win for him. Everyone wanted to give a title to the Argentine national team for Messi. The same unity was seen in Qatar, and every shared moment afterward became ingrained. In the documentary ‘El Método Scaloni,’ the national team coach said: ‘Most Argentines understand football, 4-3-3, 4-4-2. But there are things that are fundamental and don’t go along the lines of technique, tactics, or strategy; they go much further. Because you get along with the other; because for that ball, because he is your friend, you will give much more. I grew up with that; we are all together, we prepare some mate and start talking with them about how they are, about life, about whether they change clubs, things that others might not do.’
In that vein, Scaloni has a clear argument that, on the other hand, is validated over time and with teams. Although ‘good vibes’ are a plus and you first need to play well, the group is contagious. Throughout history, Argentine football has had different national teams that were successful. Others that reached finals and remained in history regardless of the result. Although theorists and coaches often talk about ‘our way’ based on a style of play — whether it’s more combative, more dribbling, or even tactical positions — what seems on the horizon is that ‘our way, in reality, goes beyond a simple formation or a cross or a feint.’ ‘Our way,’ as it seems throughout history, has as its fundamental basis that point Scaloni refers to: the unity of the group. And, in this case, a group is also built in moments that occur off the pitch, with humanity as the cornerstone.
Watch the 2026 World Cup in the best quality
These are the most sought-after TVs to watch the national team. All with 12 interest-free installments:
- Smart TV Kanji 32″ LED HD – From $120,000 in 12 interest-free installments (VAFTS9-89J3)
- Smart TV LG 43″ 4K UHD WebOS – From $450,000 in 12 interest-free installments (VAFTS9-WXW9)
- Smart TV Samsung 50″ 4K UHD – From $600,000 in 12 interest-free installments (VAFTS9-VVE0)
Approximate prices. 12 interest-free installments subject to each seller. Look for the codes on Mercado Libre.
Comentarios