‘There are no easy opponents’, says Scaloni after 2026 World Cup draw | OneFootball

The coach of the Argentinian national team, Lionel Scaloni, stated that “there are no easy opponents” and that “nothing is being underestimated” after the draw for the 2026 World Cup in North America, held this Friday (5) in Washington.

Argentina, the current world champion after winning their third title in Qatar in 2022, will be in Group J, along with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Group Analysis

Regarding Algeria, Scaloni commented: “They are a good team. I think they have great players and a strong base of young players who also provide players for France and other countries.”

The Argentinian mentioned that he knows the team's coach, Vladimir Petković: “He coached me at Lazio and is a great coach,” he said in an interview with Telefe after the draw.

About Austria, Scaloni stated that “they had a great campaign in the qualifiers and are also a tough opponent.”

Regarding Jordan, the coach declared: “We are not underestimating anything. If they got there, it's for a reason.”

If Argentina qualifies in their group, they will face the second-placed team from Group H, which includes Spain and Uruguay, in the round of 16.

“It's a tough group, a complicated crossover, if that's the case. But first, we have to advance, then we'll see,” said the Argentinian coach.

“Not giving up on anything”

As the coach of the current champions, Scaloni was the one who took to the stage carrying the iconic World Cup trophy in his gloved hands at the start of the ceremony.

There, he briefly referred to the historic final against France in Lusail, which was decided on penalties. “Our team, despite the difficulties, kept believing,” he said.

“That's what we will try to do in the next World Cup, try to keep competing and not give up on anything,” he added.

Upon arriving in the United States for the draw, Scaloni commented on the possible participation of Lionel Messi, 38, in the World Cup: “He will decide, and we will support any decision he makes,” he noted. “He is quite mature and has earned the right to decide,” he added.

Before the draw, the president of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, stated that he is negotiating the renewal of Scaloni's contract and his coaching staff until 2030. “There will definitely be a renewal,” he told Telefe.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.