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Scaloni praises Argentina’s resilience after comeback World Cup semi-final victory over England
16th July, 2026 07:13 AM
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni applauded his players’ determination after they staged a late comeback to defeat England 2-1 in Wednesday’s, July 15, 2026, FIFA World Cup semi-final and secure a place in the tournament’s final.
England looked set for victory when Anthony Gordon put them ahead in the 55th minute, but Argentina refused to give in. Enzo Fernandez leveled the score in the 85th minute before Lautaro Martinez found the winner seven minutes later, booking a final showdown with Spain on Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Scaloni said his side thrives in difficult situations and praised the mentality shown after falling behind.
“I think this team plays its best when it faces adversity. We had a challenging situation, there was blood in the water, and we went for it,” Scaloni told a post-match news conference.
Never losing belief
He explained that his players never lost belief, even when time appeared to be running out, insisting their comeback reflected much more than tactical adjustments.
“When you see there’s a vacuum, and the fact that the goals don’t go in, you know you have to just keep going. The team kept fighting. We thought we’d have to go home knowing that we’d given everything. But the way we came back goes beyond tactics. When we scored the second one, we saw everything that football is from our childhood.”
The 48-year-old encouraged his squad to appreciate the achievement of reaching another World Cup final, noting that opportunities like these are uncommon.
“What happened today was something else,” the 48-year-old said. “It’s a semifinal, the game was incredible. Now we have to rest, but we will prepare, and we have to celebrate. There are few moments like this when we can be joyful.”
Argentina’s latest triumph continued a remarkable trend at the tournament, with the team once again producing a decisive goal in either stoppage time or extra time. The South Americans previously required extra time to eliminate Cabo Verde and Switzerland, while a late goal saw them edge past Egypt.
Scaloni attributed the comeback to the character his players have developed throughout their lives and singled out captain Lionel Messi for setting the standard during the closing stages.
“I know this team, they are stubborn,” Scaloni said. “They were raised in an environment where they feared nothing; they don’t feel the weight on their shoulders.
“Messi tried to get the ball at every opportunity at the end of the game. When you see that type of commitment and determination, they’re playing like they did when they were seven or eight. They’re not playing thinking about the final, they’re thinking about football. I’m very proud of this team.”
The Argentina boss, who has guided the national team since 2018 and delivered two Copa America trophies along with the 2022 FIFA World Cup title, remained non-committal about his future beyond the current tournament.
Leaving a mark
“But I would love to leave as a world champion,” he said. “Whether I win or not doesn’t matter; the most important thing is how you face situations. We’ve shown our grit. I’m at ease.
“I’m not concerned about what people think of me or the criticism that comes my way. What I’m worried about is what I can control, to have the team go out on the pitch and understand that tomorrow’s another day. We just have to do our very best.”
Argentina will now focus on Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Asked about Luis de la Fuente’s side, which defeated France 2-0 in the other semi-final, Scaloni was full of admiration for the European champions.
“They are a great team. They deserved to win the semifinal and played very well against a team that I thought was very difficult to beat. The team is fantastic. Everyone knows how they play. We’re prepared and I hope the people can enjoy the game,” he said.
