Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni struggled to control his emotions as he thought about his team’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final, breaking down in tears during the post-match press conference as the reality of losing the trophy began to sink in.

Scaloni had led Argentina to World Cup glory four years earlier and led them back to another final in New Jersey in the hopes of defending the title. Instead, Ferran Torres’s extra-time winner gave Spain a 1–0 victory, ending Argentina’s reign as world champions and denying Lionel Messi the chance to exit the tournament with consecutive titles.

The defeat capped a physically demanding campaign for Argentina, who struggled with injuries to key players and were forced to make several changes during the knockout rounds. While Scaloni acknowledged that the defeat would hurt in the long run, he insisted he could not have asked for more from a team that once again reached football’s biggest stage.

The Argentina coach also paid special praise to Messi, calling the 39-year-old the greatest player ever to grace the game and expressing hope that the country would remember the team’s remarkable journey rather than just the final result.

Spain vs Argentina, World Cup Final: : highlight

‘It hurts our soul’

A visibly emotional Scaloni said the World Cup campaign had taken a huge physical toll on his team, with injuries forcing Argentina to constantly change their plans throughout the tournament.

Scaloni said, “We got hit in key places that we weren’t expecting. The wear and tear was so great, they made their last effort.”

The Argentina boss praised the character shown by his players despite the setbacks and insisted that every member of the team had given everything they had to achieve another World Cup victory.

“I’m proud of the way they competed. We had to make a lot of changes because of the obstacles we faced.”

Scaloni acknowledged that the defeat would stay with them, saying that the players had left everything on the field.

“It hurts our souls that we couldn’t bring home the cup. This coach is satisfied with his players.”

He also revealed Argentina still believe they can take the final to penalties Ferran Torres broke the deadlock in extra time.

“The moment they scored against us, we thought we would go to the end and have some chances.”

Despite the disappointment, Scaloni had no hesitation in acknowledging Spain’s superiority during the night.

“We have to give credit to the opponent.”

Special words for Messi

Scaloni also paid tribute to captain Lionel Messi, whose latest World Cup campaign ended in disappointment Spain successfully limited their influence throughout the final.

“Leo is 39 years old, it’s an incredible thing. I was absolutely clear that he will play as long as he wants. I hope people are proud of him and the team.”

The Argentina coach went a step further, calling Messi the greatest footballer of all time and insisting his legacy extends far beyond trophies and statistics.

Scaloni also highlighted the commitment of experienced defender Nicolas Tagliafico, revealing that the full-back refused to leave the pitch despite struggling physically during the final.

“Tagliafico played very poorly, he didn’t want to lose.”

proud of our warriors

Although the defeat ended Argentina’s hopes of retaining the World Cup, Scaloni repeatedly thanked his players for their commitment, describing them as “true warriors” who had overcome many obstacles to reach another final.

He also expressed his gratitude to Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia for giving him the opportunity to lead the national team, calling it a privilege to work with a group that has given so many unforgettable moments over the years.

Argentina ultimately fell to a Spain team that dominated and made the final, but Scaloni made it clear that the result would not diminish his praise for the team. While the pain of surrendering the World Cup was evident in his emotional press conference, the coach’s key message was one of gratitude and pride after another memorable performance on football’s biggest stage.

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