Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has described his side’s dramatic comeback victory over Egypt as one of the defining moments of his managerial career, insisting the thrilling contest reminded him why he chose to become a football coach.
The defending world champions looked destined for elimination after falling two goals behind before Lionel Messi inspired an extraordinary late revival, scoring once and providing an assist as Argentina struck three times in the closing stages to snatch a remarkable 3-2 victory and reach the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals.
Although Argentina has enjoyed greater achievements under Scaloni, including lifting the World Cup in Qatar, the 48-year-old admitted the emotional rollercoaster against Egypt will remain one of his most treasured experiences.
“Today, honestly, beyond the magnitude of the tournament, it is comparable to many great things that we have lived,” Scaloni told reporters after the match.
“It wasn’t a final, but the feeling this team gave me, refusing to stop, refusing to surrender and continuing to play our football, is something incredible.”
The Argentina coach revealed he became emotional during and after the game, explaining that nights like these justify the pressures of management.
“I became a coach for this,” he said.
“When I stopped playing, I wanted to feel these emotions again. I suffer like everyone else when I’m on the bench, but what football gives you, especially with Argentina, is incomparable.”
Scaloni admitted tears flowed both on the touchline and inside the dressing room after the final whistle.
“I was emotional today. Tears came out. They even came out again in the dressing room,” he added.
“For all of us who spent 20 years playing football, to experience what we lived today is something incredible.”
Despite the scoreline, Scaloni insisted Argentina never lost belief because he felt his players controlled the contest throughout.
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Argentina created numerous opportunities before the break, including Messi’s missed penalty and several outstanding saves from Egyptian goalkeeper Mostafa Shobeir, leaving Scaloni convinced the match was still there to be won.
“The game was always on our side,” he explained.
“We had many chances. If we had gone into half-time 2-1 or even 3-1 ahead, nobody would have said anything.”
Instead of panicking after Egypt doubled their advantage midway through the second half, Scaloni repeatedly urged his players to remain faithful to their identity.
“We kept telling them: keep going, keep going until the game is over,” he said.
“If we had to lose, I’d rather lose playing like that than stop believing.”
The victory extended Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend the FIFA World Cup title, but Scaloni believes the performance itself may ultimately leave the bigger legacy.
“This match reinforces what I believe football is,” he said.
“Football is tactics and strategy, yes, but it’s also heart, instinct and refusing to give up until the referee blows the final whistle.”
The coach believes the comeback demonstrated qualities every future Argentina player should aspire to emulate.
“It showed a team that never gives up,” Scaloni said.
“That feeling will stay with me beyond whatever happens in the rest of this World Cup.”
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Argentina will now carry that momentum into the quarterfinals to face either England or Norway.
