‘Epic squared’: Scaloni lauds Argentina’s back-to-back World Cup comebacks

Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni celebrated his team's ability to mount a dramatic late-game comeback against England in the World Cup semifinal. Scaloni described the team's mentality as thriving under adversity, noting that after England took a 1-0 lead, Argentina sensed an opportunity and pressed forward aggressively. He credited the squad's determination, mentioning multiple near-misses including shots that struck the crossbar and post before two goals in the final minutes secured a 2-1 victory.

This marked the second consecutive knockout-round win for Argentina after trailing late in the match, following a similar comeback against Egypt in the round of 16. When asked to characterize the victory, Scaloni offered a playful response, describing it as "epic squared" in reference to his earlier assessment of the Egypt match.

Scaloni emphasized the collective nature of the achievement, highlighting the team's unity and brotherhood. He noted that the squad's fearlessness and youthful approach to the game—playing without anxiety about potential failure—enabled them to maintain composure in high-pressure situations. The victory sets up a final matchup against European champions Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.

The Argentina coach now has the opportunity to lead his team to four consecutive major titles, having won the Copa America twice alongside the 2022 World Cup championship. Scaloni expressed confidence in his players' ability to perform at the highest level, stating they "fear nothing" and do not feel weighed down by the magnitude of the competition.