Scaloni Marks 100 Argentina Games Amidst World Cup Nerves and Success

Lionel Scaloni is set to reach a major milestone, managing his 100th game for Argentina on Friday as the defending champions face Cape Verde in the World Cup round of 32. This landmark arrives during one of the most successful periods in the national team's history. Scaloni, who took over in late 2018, has transformed Argentina's fortunes. He guided them to the 2021 Copa America title, their first major trophy since 1993, followed by World Cup glory in 2022 and another Copa America in 2024. His 100 matches place him third on the list of Argentina's longest-serving coaches, behind only Guillermo Stabile and Alfio Basile. Despite the immense success, Scaloni maintains a grounded perspective, stating he feels the same nerves before matches as he did on his first day. "Every time you play a match, you feel something inside. We always feel something in the pit of our stomach," he said. "There is no such thing as a relaxed match. We make it that way ourselves because that's how we feel. The day it stops being like that will be a problem."

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I'm the same as on the first day, in exactly the same way. Every time you play a match, you feel something inside. We always feel something in the pit of our stomach. There is no such thing as a relaxed match. We make it that way ourselves because that's how we feel. The day it stops being like that will be a problem.

After a dominant group stage, with victories over Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, Scaloni expressed confidence but acknowledged the challenge ahead. "We're in a good place, and now another stage of the World Cup begins. Now comes the best part," he remarked. His coaching prowess has earned respect from peers, with Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic, who previously managed Scaloni at Lazio, expressing admiration for their relationship. Scaloni's record from 99 matches stands at an impressive 72 wins, 18 draws, and only nine defeats, underscoring his significant impact on the Argentine national team.

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We're in a good place, and now another stage of the World Cup begins. Now comes the best part.