Argentina coach Scaloni signals departure after World Cup final loss

Lionel Scaloni, the coach of Argentina's national football team, announced his likely departure after the team's 0-1 loss to Spain in the World Cup final. Scaloni, who has been at the helm since 2018, stated that he will fulfill his contract until December and then reassess his future.

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I feel the need to think carefully because I don't know if I will ever be able to achieve something this great again.

"I feel the need to think carefully because I don't know if I will ever be able to achieve something this great again," the 48-year-old coach said, visibly emotional during a press conference. He expressed gratitude to the Football Association president for the opportunity and acknowledged the difficulty of recreating such a successful team.

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I will fulfill the contract, and after that, we will see.

Scaloni's tenure has been highly successful, with 80 wins, 14 draws, and 10 losses in 104 matches. He led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles, and the 2022 Finalissima. Before coaching the national team, he served as an assistant coach for Sevilla and the Argentine U-20 team.

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I will stay until December, and after that, I will most likely finish.

His contract with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) expires on December 31. Scaloni emphasized the immense effort and dedication required to maintain such a high level of performance and the challenge of rebuilding a cohesive group, stating, "Such a generation is hard to reassemble, and that deeply pains me."

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To continue, many things are needed, and above all, to 'reset' again and create a group like this. Such a generation is hard to reassemble, and that deeply pains me.