Scaloni begins his title defense journey: We must compete in the same way.

Argentina, the "Pampas Eagles," will face Algeria at the Arrowhead Stadium in their opening Group J match of the 2026 World Cup . Head coach Lionel Scaloni stated that the World Cup title offers no guarantee for the team and that they need to compete in the same manner.

With goals from Barentin Barco, Messi, and Thiago Almada, Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 in a friendly last week, successfully embarking on their journey to defend their World Cup title with a winning streak.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated, "Being world champions doesn't guarantee us anything. We must continue to compete in the same way and prove once again what we've achieved. We hope to maintain the same mentality and demonstrate our strength in crucial moments."

“We are in a good position right now and we are keeping a calm mindset. We are full of confidence and know that we are here in very good form. We have the experience of the 2022 World Cup and we know that the first game is important, but it doesn’t determine everything.”

Speaking about Argentine legend Lionel Messi, Scaloni said, "Messi has always given so much to us. He has always been one of our most important players, and now his importance will only increase. As things stand, he is in excellent form."

Image source: Internet