Copa America 2024: Lionel Scaloni's journey so far as Argentina's manager

Scaloni has won Copa America, World Cup & Finalissima with Argentina.

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina have booked their place in the semifinals of Copa America 2024 after a nerve-wracking penalty shootout win (4-2) against a resolute Ecuador in the quarterfinal round to continue their perfect run in the competition.

Defending champions Argentina initially took a 1-0 lead in the match courtesy of center-back Lisandro Martinez’s first-half goal, which was eventually wiped off as Ecuador clawed back into the game to score a late equalizer during injury time through super sub-Kevin Rodriguez to finish the game level at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

With the game directly proceeding into the penalty shootouts under the Copa America guidelines, La Albiceleste had the worst possible start as captain Lionel Messi missed his penalty. However, Argentina’s 2022 World Cup hero Emiliano Martinez delivered the goods yet again with his two consecutive penalty saves, as Lionel Scaloni’s side survived a major scare to progress to the next round of the tournament.

Heading into the decisive knockout stages, Argentina finished the group stage phase as Group A table toppers, beating the likes of Canada, Chile, and Peru in the process, with an impeccable record of three wins, three clean sheets, and five goals scored.

Also read: Copa America Golden Glove Winners

The 2022 World Cup winners are now set to lock horns with underdogs Canada at the MetLife Stadium in the semifinals. Having already beaten Canada 2-0 in the tournament curtain-raiser, La Albiceleste are heavy favourites to make it to yet another Copa America final.

Ever since his permanent appointment as the head coach of the Argentina national team in 2018, Lionel Scaloni has managed to completely revolutionize La Albiceleste, making them return to the very pinnacle of international football after years of crippling mediocrity.

In an appointment that was initially met with widespread criticism and lingering doubts over his credentials, Scaloni silenced all the negativity surrounding him to lead Argentina to multiple international triumphs.

In his almost six-year reign as Argentina manager so far, Scaloni has managed 73 international games with an incredible rate of 2.42 PPM (Points Per Match), winning three major trophies in the process: 2021 Copa America, 2022 Finalissima & 2022 FIFA World Cup.

After guiding La Albiceleste to a respectable third-place finish at the 2019 Copa America, which was also his first-ever major tournament as the national team head coach, Scaloni finally ended Argentina’s dreaded 28-year trophy drought by winning the 2021 Copa America, after they defeated host Brazil 1-0 in the final courtesy of an Angel Di Maria winner. This was also captain Lionel Messi’s first major trophy with Argentina, bringing an end to his appalling curse in the international tournament finals.

This was followed by the 2022 Finalissima triumph, where 2021 Copa America winners Argentina comfortably beat Euro 2020 champions Italy by a dominating 3-0 scoreline to win their second title in as many years.

However, something bigger and greater was in store for Lionel Scaloni and Argentina later that year, as they clinched the all-mighty World Cup by overcoming France on penalty shootouts (4-2) in an edge-of-the-seat thrilling final after the match had finished 3-3 at the end of extra time.

The 2022 World Cup glory officially made Argentina the best team in international football, a feat that looked unattainable just a few years ago. Owing to his incredible accomplishments with the Argentina national football team over such a short period of time, Scaloni was honoured with the 2021–22 World’s Best Coach Award.

Under Scaloni, La Albiceleste have had a robust defensive setup, a dynamic midfield, and a lethal attacking force—an amalgamation that has ascended them to the summit of world football.

Having won it all with Argentina, Lionel Scaloni initially decided to step down as head coach, but after making the final call to stay on board, he will now hope to guide La Albiceleste to yet another trophy in the Copa America 2024, followed by a potential triumph at the 2026 World Cup.

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