Lionel Scaloni does not like to talk about streaks. He didn’t do it when he was undefeated in that brutal 36 games and neither does he do it now when the reference marks a negative balance at the time of debuting in the three ‘big’ tournaments that he had to direct since he took over the Argentine National Team. The statistics say that the Albiceleste He could never win every time he debuted in the 2019 and 2021 Copa Américas, and the 2022 World Cup.but also in those three championships later was able to play all possible matches. Let’s review.
In Brazil 2019, Argentina faced James Rodríguez’s Colombia, who beat them 2-0 and then led the group with an ideal score. The goals were from Roger Martínez and Duvan Zapata. “Reality weighed more than history and this 0-2 that hurts against Colombia at the Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador de Bahía is, beyond the usual illusions, the sample of a current situation in construction that still has too many missing bricks”portrayed the chronicle of Clarion about that meeting on June 15.
Later, after advancing as second, the Albiceleste team reached the semifinals, where they ran into Brazil and led to the VAR scandal, the 0-2 defeat and Lionel Messi’s statements against Conmebol. They finished in third place after defeating Chile.
Two years later, in the same country, he met Chile for his debut in the top continental tournament. On June 14 at the Nilton Santos stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Argentina did not go beyond a draw. Lionel Messi with a majestic free kick and Eduardo Vargas tied after capitalizing on the rebound of a penalty that Emiliano Martínez deflected to Arturo Vidal that was charged due to the intervention of the VAR.
In the midst of the pandemic, the rest of the story is known. Maracanazo on July 10 and the end of the 28-year drought without titles at a senior level. It was the beginning of the triple crown.
And the last one was the disappointment of the Lusail stadium. Argentina beat Saudi Arabia, which turned it around in the second half to achieve one of the hardest blows that the National Team suffered in a World Cup. Qatar 2022 gave one of the greatest joys in history for the Albiceleste people.
Now it will be time to end the streak, in Atlanta and against Canada.
