Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni struggled to hold back his emotions after the Albiceleste secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over England. He called this achievement another memorable moment in the team’s incredible journey.
Lautaro Martinez’s powerful header in the second minute of stoppage time completed a thrilling turnaround. This goal sent Argentina into another World Cup final and got the players and thousands of travelling supporters celebrating wildly.
Right after the final whistle, an emotional Scaloni took a moment before speaking to the media. He was overwhelmed by what his team had just achieved.
“I’m speechless, speechless. What a joy for our country, for our people,” he said.
“The other day, I said that this squad never ceases to amaze me. And after this, it’s very difficult to get people to understand what these players are capable of.”
Scaloni also praised the fans, saying their strong support was key in inspiring the comeback against England.
“It’s incredible. We’re unique, really, and that’s not arrogance; it comes from the heart. We’re unique. These fans helped us win the match today, so I’m grateful.”
In his post-match press conference, Scaloni talked about how the match played out. He explained why he thinks his players perform better under pressure.
“To be honest, the team plays best when it’s under pressure. And when we’re under pressure, and the opposition hesitates just a little, that’s when we smell blood and go all the way. You feel as though there’s a vacuum cleaner in the goal pulling you towards it.”
The 48-year-old coach also said the comeback showed what football is all about.
“From the moment they scored, it was a display that sums up everything we want from football. Football isn’t just about tactics, strategy and playing beautifully. Football is everything that was encapsulated in those 40 minutes.”
“And when we made it 2-1, we had to dig in, and we did that right until the end, too. It’s a demonstration of everything we’re taught about what football is when we’re little.”
The night’s hero, Lautaro Martinez, felt equally emotional after scoring the decisive goal that took Argentina back to the biggest stage in world football.
The Inter Milan striker admitted he found it hard to process the moment.
“I don’t know, to be honest. This is really intense.”
Martinez shared that he thought about his childhood and the sacrifices his family made to support his football dreams.
“I’ve dreamed of scoring this goal since the first time my old man bought me a pair of football boots.”
The forward also revealed that he had predicted his winning moment before stepping onto the pitch.
“I dreamt about it, I swear to you. I told Alexis (Mac Allister) I was going to score a goal. I told him. I told Facu Medina, on the bench, that I was going to come on and win it. And it fell to me.”
He quickly acknowledged teammate Enzo Fernandez, whose equaliser sparked Argentina’s comeback.
“Enzo scored a brilliant goal too, and now that I’ve calmed down a bit, I can tell you that this team keeps proving what it’s made of.”
Martinez also talked about how Argentina won the semi-final, saying they took advantage once England’s constant pressing started to fade.
“They got tired. They pressed for 60 minutes. After that, they had nothing left in the tank.”
“After they scored, they dropped back, and that gave us more freedom to move the ball around. We spread the play wide and eventually scored both goals; after three and a half years, we’re back in a World Cup Final.”
With yet another strong comeback, Argentina showed the resilience and belief that have defined Scaloni’s time as coach. Now, with the FIFA World Cup trophy just one win away, the Albiceleste are close to writing another glorious chapter in their football history.
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