In a candid and fascinating interview ahead of the dream 2026 World Cup final, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni opened up to the press, recalling the toughest moments and lessons that shaped his golden career with 'La Albiceleste', touching specifically on the Saudi national team.

In statements reported by media outlets, the architect of Argentina's achievements confirmed that the famous and historic defeat against Saudi Arabia's Green in the opening match of the 2022 Qatar World Cup was a profound intellectual and psychological turning point for him, saying:

"The match against Saudi Arabia completely ended my belief in superstitions in football. It taught me that nothing is guaranteed or goes according to pre-set calculations in this game, and we must always be prepared for all scenarios."

Scaloni also noted that that initial shock made him a more realistic and flexible coach in dealing with crises, which later helped him lead Argentina through difficult periods in the current edition of the World Cup, such as the recent complicated match against Cape Verde that reminded him of the Saudi scenario.

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