Scaloni Says First Match Not Fundamental Before Argentina Vs Argelia
Lionel Scaloni said the first argentina vs argelia match is not fundamental as Argentina prepares for its Group J debut in Kansas City. The coach also said Emiliano Martínez is available and should play Tuesday if things stay the same.
Scaloni Sets Argentina’s Tone
“No es un fundamental el primer partido,” Scaloni said Monday in a press conference before the World Cup opener. He backed that up with a wider message about the team’s mindset: “Es un partido de fútbol y nosotros tenemos experiencia del último Mundial.”
Argentina arrives with that memory still attached to its last World Cup start. It lost 2-1 to Saudi Arabia in its opening match in Qatar 2022, then went on to win the tournament, and Scaloni used that run to push back against any urge to treat one game as decisive.
“Tenemos la tranquilidad de que no se acaba con el primer partido. Estamos bien, confiados, creo que llegamos en un buen momento,” he said. The line fits the way Argentina is approaching its debut: guarded, but not tight, with the opener treated as important rather than decisive.
Argelia Brings A Real Test
Scaloni did not present Argelia as a soft entry point. He compared it to Marruecos, praised its players and coach Vladimir Petkovic, and pointed to the 1-1 draw between Brasil and Marruecos as a warning against complacency.
“Argelia es un rival similar a Marruecos, juega bastante similar, tiene grandes jugadores, un gran entrenador (Vladimir Petkovic) que conozco y hace jugar a su equipo muy bien,” Scaloni said. He added, “El partido de Brasil es un buen ejemplo, no hay que confiarse,” and called the match “una buena prueba, sabiendo que no es definitiva, pero sí importante.”
The opponent arrives with its own World Cup history. Argelia last played in the tournament in 2014, when it reached the round of 16 before Germany eliminated it in extra time, and it also won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1990 and 2019. Scaloni summed up the challenge more bluntly: “Nos va a poner las cosas muy difíciles, eso seguro.”
Emiliano Martínez Available Tuesday
Argentina’s goalkeeper situation also stayed stable. Scaloni said Emiliano Martínez, who has a fractured ring finger on his right hand, is well and available for Tuesday.
“Emiliano está bien, está disponible para mañana (martes). Si todo va como hasta ayer, va a jugar,” Scaloni said. That gives Argentina a clear answer in a match where the coach is trying to keep the opening result in perspective while still protecting against the trap of underestimating a returning World Cup side.
