Ahead of the 2022 World Cup final, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was seated in front of the press to answer questions.
With the clash with France likely to be the biggest of his coaching career to this point, Scaloni is hoping to solely focus on the performance of his own team.
However, with the French squad having been plagued with illness throughout the week, Scaloni was pressed to talk about how that may give his side a physical advantage.
“In relation to the virus that the French players supposedly have, I can’t say anything because we don’t have anything official,” Scaloni declared at his pre-match press conference.
“We are preparing for the game in relation to how they are going to play and how we want to play.”
One of the issues that has arisen at the tournament, particularly in the latter stages, has been fans without tickets struggling to get into stadiums. Morocco‘s quarter-final with Portugal saw a number of unpleasant incidents occur outside the ground, and there are fears that many Argentina fans will look to get into the stadium for Sunday’s final without a legitimate ticket.
“I’m very sorry, it’s something that is out of our hands. I would love it if they could be there, the stadium has a capacity and to have come in itself is something incredible,” Scaloni added.
“We hope that the majority can attend and give them some joy. We have the best fans in the world and for one reason or another they were in need of joy and we are giving it to them and how can I not be excited.
“Football is a sport and in Argentina, although it’s hard to understand, it may be more than a sport and for us the fact that the people have been happy during this World Cup excites us.”
Lionel Messi may be playing his final international match
Having already played in a World Cup final, Lionel Messi knows what it is like to taste defeat in the biggest game in international football.
His career has been plagued by criticism for not having won the World Cup, but he now has another chance to do so.
Scaloni, though, believes this will be the Paris Saint-Germain forward’s last chance, with Sunday’s meeting with France likely to be his final match with the national team.
“If Leo has said it’s going to be his last game, what better scenario than in a World Cup final?” Scaloni pondered.
“Tomorrow’s match is Argentina against France, it’s more than Messi against Mbappe. On our side we hope it goes our way.
“There are plenty of players who can decide the match.”
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