Scaloni: 'Experience of playing a final is not fundamental'

Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentine national team, dismissed the notion that prior experience in playing finals provides a significant advantage for his squad heading into the Copa América final against Spain.

"They also have players who have played in big stages," Scaloni remarked during the official pre-match press conference. "That pressure, when the ball starts rolling, the player forgets. I don't think it's a handicap, quite the opposite. It's not fundamental that we have played a final; they have also played the Euro and Nations League finals."

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They also have players who have played in big stages. That pressure, when the ball starts rolling, the player forgets. I don't think it's a handicap, quite the opposite. It's not fundamental that we have played a final; they have also played the Euro and Nations League finals.

Scaloni explained that while Spain was analyzed for the Finalissima match, the team's preparation has been comprehensive, considering all potential opponents throughout the tournament. "We analyzed Spain for the Finalissima, but also potential World Cup opponents. We analyzed the entire path that could be taken. It's not that I'm analyzing it more than any other, because over-analyzing is not good either. We all know their strengths and we will try to exploit the areas where they might suffer," he added.

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More than being a final, it's a football match in which we need to give our best version. We don't think of it as a World Cup final. We prepare for it with maximum intensity, like all matches.

The coach stressed that regardless of the stage, the focus remains on delivering their best performance. "More than being a final, it's a football match in which we need to give our best version. We don't think of it as a World Cup final. We prepare for it with maximum intensity, like all matches," Scaloni stated.

He also expressed his emotion regarding the fans' response, noting how their celebrations touch the team. "You see your people celebrating in a way that reaches you and it's impossible not to be touched in the heart. We play for them, for those people who are waiting to see the national team. We have recovered the ability for a Boca fan to hug a River fan. We feel that and we take it into account. In a World Cup, unity is fundamental, and the people are with the team," he added.

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You see your people celebrating in a way that reaches you and it's impossible not to be touched in the heart. We play for them, for those people who are waiting to see the national team.