Argentina coach praises Spain's quality and calls reaching the final an exceptional achievement for Messi

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that facing Spain in the 2026 World Cup final represents a major challenge, stressing that Argentina's experience from the 2022 World Cup final does not give them a clear advantage ahead of the highly anticipated match on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

During the official press conference, Scaloni explained that the Spanish team possesses technical and tactical qualities that cause concern, noting that everything about the Spanish team is alarming given their impressive performances under coach Luis de la Fuente.

The Argentine coach added that both teams share a reliance on possession and building play from the back, expressing his hope that both teams will deliver a match worthy of the tournament final.

Scaloni praised Argentina captain Lionel Messi, considering his reaching the final at the age of 39 an exceptional achievement, as he shares the top scorer spot with Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, each with eight goals.

Preparation and focus on technical aspects

Scaloni noted that his team is preparing for the final in the same way as for previous matches, focusing on technical aspects and working to shield players from psychological pressure, dismissing the idea that experience from the previous final would be a decisive factor against a Spain side that also includes players accustomed to big matches.

In the same context, the Argentine coach mentioned that the team's successes in recent years have made their playing style known to opponents, stressing that reaching the final again reinforces the value of what has been achieved.

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