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Lionel Scaloni, calm and expressionless on the touchline, watched as Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning penalty in the 2022 World Cup final, sealing Argentina’s third world title with a dramatic victory over France. While players celebrated wildly, Scaloni initially remained still and silent, almost as if processing the moment in private. Only minutes later did he break down emotionally when a player hugged him and whispered: “We are world champions.” That calmness has long defined Scaloni. He did not react publicly to early criticism over his lack of experience. He stayed composed when Argentina’s World Cup hopes were under pressure from Kylian Mbappé’s goals in the final. And he remains steady now as he leads Argentina into another title defence. Those close to him say Scaloni’s calm mindset is shaped by cycling, a daily routine he adopted after retiring as a player. He spends two to three hours a day riding, often through the mountains of Mallorca in Spain, where he lives, or in his hometown Pujato in Argentina. He says the activity helps him clear his mind and think about football without pressure. “On the bike, you can think about your team, your opponent, how to prepare for the match. It really clears my head,” Scaloni has said in interviews. “It helps me lower my expectations and stay calmer.” In the coming weeks, Scaloni will become only the third coach to lead Argentina in back-to-back World Cups, following César Luis Menotti and Carlos Bilardo, both former champions. But he often rejects comparisons with them, saying they belong to a different level of achievement. Scaloni’s journey to the top job was unexpected. With no senior coaching experience, he took charge temporarily in 2018 after Argentina’s poor World Cup campaign in Russia. At the time, he was not seen as a serious long-term candidate, with names like Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone being discussed instead. Diego Maradona, Argentina’s 1986 World Cup-winning captain, once sharply questioned his ability to lead the national team. Despite doubts, Scaloni stayed on. He guided Argentina to Copa América glory in 2021 and successfully led the team through qualification for the 2022 World Cup. In Qatar, after a shock opening loss to Saudi Arabia, he reshaped the squad by introducing young players such as Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Julián Álvarez. The move helped transform Argentina’s performance, culminating in Lionel Messi delivering a career-defining World Cup triumph. Scaloni later admitted the criticism was expected, given his inexperience, but said he held no resentment. The challenge now is even greater. Argentina must defend their title with Messi approaching the end of his career and amid ongoing tensions within the country’s football administration. Brazil was the last team to win back-to-back World Cups in 1962, a reminder of how difficult the task is. Scaloni has repeatedly stressed that past success guarantees nothing. “I don’t dwell on what we achieved. You always have to look forward,” he said in late 2025. “With this shirt, you can’t relax.” Argentina have remained strong under his leadership, winning Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024 and finishing top of South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, even when Messi missed matches due to fitness issues. Football figures in Argentina say the team’s biggest strength is unity “It’s a team with very clear leadership,” said former World Cup winner Jorge Valdano. “Players haven’t lost their hunger.” However, Scaloni’s tenure has not been without uncertainty. In 2023, he briefly hinted at stepping down after a World Cup qualifier win over Brazil, citing personal and emotional strain. There have also been reports of internal disagreements and broader instability within Argentine football administration, including criticism over match scheduling and governance issues. Despite this, Scaloni has remained focused and largely avoids public controversy. Argentina will begin their World Cup campaign in Kansas City on June 16 against Algeria, followed by matches against Austria and Jordan. Scaloni, true to his style, remains calm and cautious. “We know expectations are high because we are champions,” he said. “But football is unpredictable. Anything can happen.”

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his team would enjoy muted celebrations after reaching the World Cup final with a 3-0 victory over Croatia on Tuesday. Julian Alvarez scored a brace and Lionel Messi converted a penalty as Argentina won their fifth consecutive match at this tournament after starting with a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia. "We'll celebrate because we know it's exciting to advance to the final," Scaloni said after the semifinal. "But we still have one step ahead of us. It's a historic moment that we need to enjoy but that's it. We need to focus on the upcoming match." Read: Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 to reach World Cup final Scaloni heaped praise on Messi, who now has five goals and three assists at this tournament. His strike here saw him surpass Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina's all-time leading World Cup scorer with 11 goals. "Of course we say that Messi is [the best player ever] and maybe we are narrow-minded because as an Argentine, it's enjoyable. But I have no doubt that he is the best," he said. "I have been saying it for a long time. I'm honored to see him train and play. It's exciting because every time you see him play it's a huge source of motivation for Argentinians. It's a privilege to have him in our squad." Read: Argentina erupts in joy after team reaches World Cup final Scaloni also thanked the tens of thousands of Argentinian fans present at Lusail stadium, many of whom began singing hours before the 10pm kick-off and finished well beyond midnight. "I have the dream job of all Argentines," he said. "Our people were supporting us throughout and you could feel it. It was unforgettable. We're all pushing in the same direction and we're grateful for to them."

Argentina football team’s coach Lionel Scaloni has urged fans to remain calm following Lionel Messi’s opening goal in a crucial 2-0 win over Mexico on Saturday that kept their 2022 Qatar World Cup hope alive. If Argentina had lost with a Group C match remaining, they would have had to say goodbye to their World Cup dreams. Despite this triumph against Mexico, capped by a great Enzo Fernández strike, they must still beat Poland on Wednesday to assure a spot in the last 16, reports Buenos Aires Times. When asked about photos of his assistant Pablo Aimar on the verge of tears during the Argentina vs Mexico match, coach Scaloni asked for some perspective. Read more: Saudi Arabia coach Hervé Renard sorry to disappoint mothe “You have to have some common sense, it’s just a football match,” he said. “I received a message from my brother saying he was crying and it can’t be like that. It’s as if it were more than a football match. “…The players must understand it’s a football match. If not, it will be like this in every match. It’s hard to make people understand that the sun will rise tomorrow, win or lose. What matters is how you do things.” Scaloni stated that he would not be celebrating yet because the Argentina squad is still not out of the water. Even if they draw with Poland, the two-time champion might still get eliminated. Read more: FIFA World Cup 2022: Messi leads Argentina to 2-0 win over Mexico “People will think I’m crazy but fine, we won, we’re celebrating, it happens,” Buenos Aires Times quoted him as saying. “…The joy doesn’t last long, you have to maintain balance,” Scaloni said. Coach Lionel Scaloni is obviously not overjoyed following his team's much-needed 2-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday. Instead, he prefers to remain calm, at least until the next match against Poland, which is virtually a do-or-die contest for Argentina in its quest for a Round of 16 berth at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.