Javier Zanetti: 'I would renew Scaloni's contract until 2030, even without knowing what will happen in the World Cup'

Javier Zanetti, the legendary Argentine footballer, fondly recalls his childhood experiences of Argentina's World Cup triumphs, painting a vivid picture of a nation united in celebration.

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The flapping of Pato Fillol with the No. 5 on his green jersey, the rain of confetti on the fields I saw on TV, and the number of buses full of fans heading towards the Boca bridge to celebrate in the Capital

"Everyone was shouting at Manuel Ocantos 1060, the house that old Rodolfo had built with his rough bricklayer hands," Zanetti begins, setting the scene for the 1978 World Cup. As a young boy, he remembers the "flapping of Pato Fillol with the No. 5 on his green jersey, the rain of confetti on the fields I saw on TV, and the number of buses full of fans heading towards the Boca bridge to celebrate in the Capital."

He also vividly remembers the 1982 World Cup, particularly Italy's 3-2 victory over Brazil. "I have that match engraved because I loved the midfield of Socrates, Falcao, Toninho Cerezo, and Zico, but that day Paolo Rossi appeared, who hadn't scored yet in the World Cup, scored three, and started pushing the Azzurra to the title," Zanetti recounts. He notes that even years later in Italy, Rossi was still spoken of as a legend.

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I have that match engraved because I loved the midfield of Socrates, Falcao, Toninho Cerezo, and Zico, but that day Paolo Rossi appeared, who hadn't scored yet in the World Cup, scored three, and started pushing the Azzurra to the title

Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, Zanetti expressed optimism about the current squad. "Messi has mentally prepared himself to have a great World Cup," he stated. He also touched upon the difficult decisions facing the coaching staff regarding squad selection, acknowledging the disappointment for players like Balerdi who might miss out. "But decisions have to be made, and the squad that will represent us in the World Cup will be very competitive," Zanetti assured.

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Messi has mentally prepared himself to have a great World Cup

Zanetti also considered the potential impact of players like Nico González and Giuliano, who could offer a different kind of aggression to the team, while acknowledging the absence of Ángel Di María. He also noted the importance of Nico Paz's ability to disrupt play in his preferred areas. Despite the challenges of selection, Zanetti remains confident in Argentina's ability to compete for a fourth World Cup title.

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But decisions have to be made, and the squad that will represent us in the World Cup will be very competitive