Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has called for his team to focus on the present as they begin their Copa America title defense against Canada on Thursday.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Scaloni acknowledged the team’s recent success in winning the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup but emphasized the need to shift their focus to the upcoming tournament.
“We are talking about things that have already passed,” Scaloni said. “(Winning the World Cup and the Copa America) was very nice but it’s over. Football matches are all different, there are no easier games than others. A lot of things can happen. The difficulty of France, Brazil or Canada can be the same.”
The inclusion of six teams from CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football) in this edition of the Copa America has sparked discussions about potential changes in difficulty for Argentina. However, Scaloni downplayed the notion of a significant shift in challenge.
“It will be a difficult Copa America as always, we are prepared for what is to come. We are doing well, with clear ideas and knowing the difficulty of this tournament.”
When asked about the key to Argentina’s recent turnaround after years of near misses in major tournaments, Scaloni highlighted the importance of enjoyment and collective effort.
“Beyond the titles, we have enjoyed a lot. It’s a pleasure to watch how (the players) give their all,” he said. “That leads to being able to achieve things. We have shown that even if we didn’t win like in 2019, we were able to continue and show you can do things.”
Argentina, placed in Group A alongside Canada, Peru, and Chile, will kick off their title defense against Canada on Thursday.
