Argentina’s recent story has been about control, belief and an edge in the biggest moments. Winning the 2022 World Cup changed the scale of expectation, and the two Copa América triumphs around it only raised the bar further.
Scaloni, though, has consistently pushed back against grand comparisons. “Não acho que estejamos no mesmo nível. Eles têm carreiras consolidadas, marcaram uma era,” he said when asked about Argentina’s legendary World Cup-winning coaches. It is a typically measured answer from a manager who has often looked most convincing when the outside world gets loud.
No storyline sits above Lionel Messi. Even with Argentina now functioning as a hardened collective, his status still shapes the mood around the team. He appears to remain central to the picture, even after periods in which fitness has been a talking point, and his presence changes the emotional temperature of every match.
That matters because defending champions can easily become sentimental. Scaloni has tried to guard against that. The message, as he put it, is simple: reputation alone should not secure anyone a place.
Opening games can distort an entire tournament. Algeria may not be the glamour tie, but it is exactly the kind of match that can punish any drift in focus. Reports have also suggested debate around Argentina’s preparation and the level of recent friendlies, but Scaloni has brushed that aside: “Jogar contra os melhores não garante nada, e isso também não. Temos de enfrentar o que vier e ser positivos.”
That is now the challenge on 16 June. If Argentina start well, the mood can settle quickly before the rest of Group J unfolds. If they stumble, every tension around the champions will grow louder.