Stairs was asked a pertinent question during Argentina’s pre-match press conference regarding the evolution of the national team since 2022.
According to my calculations, Argentina has secured 34 wins out of 42 matches since then, including the 2024 Copa America victory in the United States. Scaloni’s squad also triumphed in the CONMEBOL round-robin tournament to qualify.
Reflecting on comparisons to Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team, Scaloni commented yesterday:
“Since Qatar, we’ve delivered outstanding matches while maintaining a consistent performance level.”
The coach emphasized recent additions like Thiago (Almada), noting his expanded role compared to previous strategies: “Before, we relied on four midfielders focused on play and footwork. Thiago now provides the one-on-one quality Angel Di Maria used to offer on the right flank.”
The team’s development prioritizes speed, dribbling, and diverse attacking options beyond Lionel Messi’s contributions. Scaloni also mentioned a strategic shift, observing that Argentina focuses less on high pressing and more on winning possession in midfield—a trait seen in many modern teams.
