Scaloni's thoughtful message after the World Cup: "We suffered attacks from people who don't know us"

The Argentina coach wrote after three years of silence on Instagram to send a heartfelt message to the Albiceleste fans

Lionel Scaloni had not used his Instagram account since 2023. After a week of endless and intricate emotions, the Argentina coach wanted to put everything experienced after the final against Spain into perspective, in a lengthy message accompanied by a photograph with his coaching staff.

The coach himself acknowledged that he needed time to find the right words, describing those days as a mix of sadness and joy, of tears and smiles, of anguish and calm, and admitted not feeling comfortable with social media, although he ultimately chose it as the best channel to address the entire country.

The coach from Pujato did not dodge the result: he apologized for not having been able to bring a new trophy home, aware of the excitement that a new title would have meant for the fans amid the difficulties of everyday life. But he quickly shifted the focus to what, in his view, goes beyond any scoreline: the legacy of values that this group of players, whom he described as "my warriors" -as he calls them in private when he speaks about them with his wife-, left throughout the entire tournament.

Scaloni listed in detail those qualities that, as he explained, represent the team's true triumph: effort, determination, the "I can do it" mindset, not giving up even when the road gets steep, and giving everything even when there is nothing left to give.

In that review, he also included a reference, deliberately written in uppercase, to the criticism received during the tournament from people outside the group, a passage that several media outlets interpreted as a veiled response to the voices that questioned the national team throughout the World Cup.

The quiet work

The message also served to explicitly thank everyone who surrounded the squad during the tournament: the coaching staff, the players themselves, the AFA staff who work quietly to make sure everything functions, and the Argentine fans as a whole for the affection shown. At no point, however, did the coach refer to his immediate future at the helm of the national team, an unknown that his letter did not clear up.

'The post closed with a postscript that quickly went viral on social media: the phrase "whoever has an Argentine friend has a treasure", an ending that nicely sums up the overall tone of the message, focused more on the emotional bond with the people than on the sporting result. '

The statement

After an intense week in which sadness has intertwined with joy, tears with a smile, anguish with peace, nerves with calm, I can sit down to write a few words, which, although you know I don't really like social media, may be the best way to get them to you.

All I can say to you is I'm sorry for not being able to bring you another cup and give you a new joy that, even if only for a few days, might make you forget all the ugliness in life.

But I want you to keep what we have tried to show this group of players, my warriors, as I used to describe them when I spoke about them to my wife.

The effort, the desire, the will, the I can do it, not giving up (even when everything becomes an uphill battle), giving it your all (even when you have nothing left), enduring buckets of cold water (FROM PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW US), knowing how to carry yourself, wanting to keep standing when your legs no longer obey your brain…. That is the real trophy

Eternally grateful to my coaching staff, players, the AFA staff, those who silently work so that we can be comfortable, and to each and every one of you for the affection received.

Lionel Scaloni

P.S.: Whoever has an Argentine friend has a treasure.