Lionel Scaloni: 'We must be great in defeat' after World Cup final loss

Following Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, coach Lionel Scaloni called for his team to embrace the runner-up status and value their achievements. Despite falling short of retaining their title, Scaloni congratulated his players, asserting they had given maximum effort. "We are great in victory and we have to be great in defeat," the Argentine coach stated after the final loss. Since taking charge in 2019, Scaloni had guided Argentina through a series of final victories, including the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, the Finalissima in 2022, and the 2022 World Cup. This streak ended against Luis de la Fuente's Spain, who was Scaloni's former mentor during his coaching education in Spain. Scaloni acknowledged his current sadness but stressed his "eternal gratitude" for his players. Argentina, the reigning champions from 2022, were defeated 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal. The team reached their second consecutive final, showcasing resilience through tough knockout matches. They overcame deficits against Cape Verde and Egypt, and secured wins after extra time against Switzerland and in the semifinals against England. "We remember what we did. We gave everything," Scaloni concluded, reflecting on the loss in extra time. This defeat, alongside the 2014 final loss to Germany, marks Argentina's fourth second-place finish in the World Cup.

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We are great in victory and we have to be great in defeat.