Argentina is back in a FIFA World Cup semifinal, and coach Lionel Scaloni made it crystal clear he doesn't care how they got there. Standing at Atlanta Stadium on the eve of their massive clash with England, Scaloni told reporters his squad is "in good shape, and we really can't wait." This team, the reigning World Cup holders, is looking to make it to consecutive finals, and their hopes, he says, are totally intact. "We are so grateful to these players for getting us here again," he added.
The Gritty Grind to Atlanta
Let's be real, this hasn't been a cakewalk for the Albiceleste. With an ageing side led by a 39-year-old Lionel Messi, Argentina has had to fight tooth and nail through every single knockout round. They were pegged back twice before scraping a 3-2 win in extra time against Cape Verde. Then, in Atlanta, they needed a late comeback to take down Egypt, again by a 3-2 scoreline. Just last Saturday, they faced a 10-man Switzerland and still required a draining half-hour of extra time to secure a 3-1 victory. Talk about putting in the work. But Scaloni? He's unfazed. "A month and a half ago, I would have taken getting to the semifinal if you had offered me that, so I don't mind how we got here," he said. He's not reproaching his players for a second. "Whether we are tired or not, I don't care. This is a World Cup semifinal."England, 1986, and Staying Focused
This Wednesday's semi against Thomas Tuchel's England side is a rivalry renewed, one that brings back all sorts of memories, especially from 1986. That quarterfinal, dude, everyone remembers it. Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal, followed by that absolutely superb individual effort that sealed the victory. Scaloni himself gets it, calling it a "marvellous goal" and saying it "will remain in all our hearts because it was so beautiful." He knows any football lover remembers it that way, especially since it happened against England. Now, the old tensions from the Falkland Islands dispute four years before that game can still simmer, but Scaloni is adamant: "The reality is this is a football match. I am not going to mix everything up, especially regarding things that happened so long ago." He's keeping his team focused on the pitch. Speaking of the pitch, England is stacked with talent. Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane are absolute monsters, accounting for 12 of England's 13 goals in this tournament. Scaloni acknowledged they are "two great players, among the best in the world," players any coach would want. Argentina's former West Ham United defender coach says they are looking at how to "neutralise these great players" and might even make a change to the lineup, though playing the same team is also on the table. It's all about getting the job done. It's England vs. Argentina, a World Cup semifinal in Atlanta on Wednesday. Can Argentina's veteran squad, led by Messi and Scaloni's defiant spirit, push through the fatigue to reach another final? This is what we live for!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.