“We really can’t wait” – Scaloni ahead of semi-final | OneFootball

It’s been a long and bruising campaign in their defence of the world title; the holders have had tough challenge after tough challenge since they topped their group.

Taken to extra time by Cape Verde, then having to claw back from two goals down against Egypt, Argentina had to go to extra time again to beat Switzerland in a game where they finally showed some of their quality.

For the world champions and a side that hasn’t lost a competitive game since being defeated by Brazil in 2019, Argentina have failed to look on par with the French or the Spanish during this tournament, yet they sit on the verge of another World Cup final and the chance to retain their trophy.

Manager Lionel Scaloni spoke of his excitement ahead of the fixture, which is one of the biggest in living memory for both nations.

“We are in good shape, and we really can’t wait. This is a World Cup semi-final, and our hopes are intact. We are so grateful to these players for getting us here again.”

One of the main players he and all of Argentina should be grateful for is Lionel Messi. Arguably the greatest player of all time, the 39-year-old has dragged his side through the group stages and earlier knockout rounds with eight goals and two assists in his six World Cup matches.

Messi is aiming to emulate his idol, Diego Maradona, whose two goals against England in 1986 remain a huge part of Argentinian folklore. The former Barcelona man and icon has never faced England in any of his 201 appearances for Argentina.

Scaloni was quick to reference Maradona, whose two goals have been named ‘The Hand of God’ and ‘The Goal of the Century’ as time has gone on.

”I think everyone remembers that game, and Diego’s performance, above all, the second goal, which will remain in all our hearts because it was so beautiful,” Scaloni said.

“It was a marvellous goal, and any football lover remembers it that way. And it just happened to be against England.”

Argentina will be hoping for a similar success to the one they faced in that game 40 years ago, and Scaloni believes his side’s experience in these late-stage knockout games can help see the Albiceleste through.

“We have a little bit of experience playing these games. It doesn’t necessarily give you an advantage, but perhaps it makes you calmer.”

”This is our fifth semi-final as a team, and that puts us at ease. The guys are calm and ready for the game.”

Scaloni was then asked about the talents of the England side, in particular Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who have helped carry the Three Lions to just their fourth-ever World Cup semi-final.

”We always seek to improve our team and neutralise these players in the best way possible. We might make changes, or we might repeat what we’ve done. The players don’t know what the team is yet,” Scaloni said.

”We are facing two of the best players in the world, and any head coach would be happy to have them in their squad. We have our weapons, and we’re going to do our best to neutralise them.”

Of course, this game is one of football’s most storied rivalries, but off the pitch, the rivalry has become something wholly different since the Falklands War of 1982, where 649 Argentine soldiers and 255 British soldiers, as well as 3 civilians, were killed over a 74-day conflict.

The British-overseen territory, known to Argentina as ‘Las Malvinas ‘, is still a subject of sovereignty dispute, especially in Argentina.

Both managers were asked about the effects of the politics on this already intense rivalry, ”The reality is that this is a football match. I can’t mix things up, especially out of respect for what happened so many years ago,” said Scaloni.

“It was a very sad period in our history, and there isn’t much we can do about it; that’s the reality.

“Things are happening elsewhere in the world, and we criticise the existence of war. We certainly remember those people, of course. But it is a football match; we shouldn’t confuse the two.”

Melting together history, scandal, pride and anger, this fixture has it all to be a World Cup classic on the pitch. Argentina are looking to be the first team since Brazil in ’58 and ’62 to lift the trophy back to back, whereas for England, it’s a chance for the three lions to take one step closer to their first trophy since 1966. The same tournament in which this storied battle began.