Argentina won the most cherished world cup after 30+ years of awaiting and the final -day celebration seems to me the day after yesterday. The truth is, 6 months+ time has passed and it was great to watch soccer matches back to December, 22. Quite many of the people had their own responses and whatever critics say little or more, it will always be true that, 9/10 people wanted Messi to win the cup, right at the time when he was about to retire.
Not A One Man Show.
Messi won the world cup,but still it was an achievement Argentina bagged and glory also goes in their favour. Winning a soccer world cup is indeed a big achievement to win under any circumstances, despite having superior team strength, a better team combination, world class players, an excellent coach to guide or size of domestic leagues etc, still,these things contribute more to teams success.
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Casting over the journey Argentina made during the tour of Qatar, I saw lots of predictions to be made at the time of start of group stage matches. The supporters of Argentina had belief and hope, deeply grounded that they are going to win this time and Messi wont spare each minutes of gameplay without a hard fight. Comparing to other mega-stars, Messi was the brightest among other soccer players, incomparably.
Its my own observation that Messi just didnt play a dominant role to winning and despite being a Messi fan, I would say - he is one who has least capability among other super athletes to play well against serious odds, against extreme pressure. In a situation, where Argentina down out to 2-0 goals, where 30 minutes of time left to play in the second half, then I have seen Messi's body language to change, cramming like crazy and unprepared postures. Final matches were examples of that.
The Great Native Coach.
Practically, Argentina would have never won the world cup if other key players ceased to play well and holding Argentina a tough nut to crack. I have doubt whether it was possible to win the title if there were no coaches as like Scaloni. Prior to him Maradona was tested, he failed and proved, its not always who plays well,coaches well. Additionally, the theory that world-cup winners arent world cup producers, Ha ha.
Diego Sampaoli, Simeoni were players of middle calibre and had stardom as great European league Bosses. In their coaching time they have enabled a relatively low profile team to feel like they have trophies to win, rather than being underdogs all the time. La liga seemed as a battleground between Madrid,Barca & Atletico to bag 80% of the trophies time to time and these coached proved the trend as not-so-powerful with their magic and organizing talent.
What is my point here is that, AFA chose such league coaching sensations twice and thrice, one by one, relative rapidly that they found it hard to make an iron legged team. Its pretty obvious, if managers dont get to find 1 year+ of time, then how they would foster growth among the players and their own confidences.
Back in 2021, the world started to forget the disasters caused by the global pandemic and mere one year to go before flying to Qatar for the #biggestfootballdream. Copa America was the chance to show that they have might to win and winning the copa final against Brazil was a proving factor that they are prepared. That little confidence that, winning major trophy isnt a big deal, its simple and sapping of confidence, filling with energy was all so priceless.
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Scaloni was there to make all the dreams to happend. He wasnt a high-profile figure,he wasnt a cracker jack type of manager like Morinho,klopp etc, even not even Argentine people knew fairly about him. But, that was essential to win, and he made sure Argentina to have a tally, keep going, keep winning,making winning a streak and 22-0, 23-0 was something that gives a killer spirit that made the team indomitable.
Winning the world cup wasnt just a Messi show,I think its necessary to show that some of other guys made the design and insidious structure upon where Argentina's success depended.
Scaloni was one little name with "excellent" contribution. And, that should the world never forget.