Lionel Scaloni: Argentina vs Spain. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised his players after their dramatic 2-1 comeback win over England in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final. He described the team’s achievement as “incredible” and vowed to give everything in the final against Spain. Argentina came from behind in Atlanta, with goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez securing their place in Sunday’s title match.
Scaloni thanked every player, including substitutes who played a key role. “We have to thank the players. It’s hard to explain what this group has done,” he said. “Those who came on from the bench today were fundamental.” He added that personal praise does not matter to him, stating, “I think we are fair winners. We are prepared to face what comes next.”
Looking ahead, Scaloni promised Argentina would leave nothing on the pitch. “We’re going to try to win, we’re going to give it everything. But this is already impressive. We’re unique and it’s not arrogance. It’s heart,” he said. He noted that his team plays better under pressure and kept pushing until the stoppage-time winner came.
The match was closely fought, with England taking the lead through Anthony Gordon in the 55th minute. But Argentina equalized in the 85th minute before Messi set up Martinez for the winner. Scaloni also reflected on emotions in football, saying, “These are the only moments of pure happiness we have.” Argentina now face Spain in the final, while England play France for third place.