Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni lauded his team’s relentless spirit after they staged another comeback to defeat England 2-1 in the FIFA World Cup semifinal on Wednesday, July 16, 2026, in Atlanta. Scaloni described the victory as a collective effort fueled by a strong brotherhood and a refusal to yield under pressure.

Scaloni remarked, “There was blood in the water, and we went for it,” referring to Argentina’s aggressive late attacks after England took a 1-0 lead and then sat back. He emphasized that the team performs best when facing adversity, noting, “We had a challenging game, a challenging situation.”

This win marked the second time in the knockout rounds that Argentina overcame a late deficit, following their remarkable last-16 comeback against Egypt, which Scaloni previously called “epic.” The victory propels Argentina into the World Cup final against European champions Spain, scheduled for Sunday, July 20, 2026, in New Jersey.

Scaloni, who has the opportunity to lead Argentina to four consecutive major titles after Copa America wins surrounding their 2022 World Cup triumph, praised his players’ fearlessness and composure. “They fear nothing,” he said. “They don’t feel the weight on their shoulders.”

The coach highlighted the importance of the team’s unity and fighting spirit, stating, “It is a show of the collectiveness, the brotherhood that we are in, the fight to the very end that we have.”

Sources