ARGENTINA EYEING BACK-TO-BACK WORLD CUP GLORY – TAGLIAFICO
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By: Balogun Ibrahim
Argentina full-back Nicolás Tagliafico has described the prospect of becoming the first team in 64 years to defend the World Cup title as a “dream” for the three-time world champions.
Argentina, one of South America’s football powerhouses, enters this year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada as one of the favorites, following their triumph in Qatar four years ago led by Lionel Messi.
Messi, 38, has confirmed this will be his sixth and final World Cup, but Argentina head into the tournament in strong form, having topped the South American qualifying standings.
The last team to win consecutive World Cups was Pele’s Brazil in 1958 and 1962, following Italy’s back-to-back victories in 1934 and 1938.
“Only Brazil and Italy have won two consecutive World Cups, but that was a long time ago,” Nicolás Tagliafico told AFP. “It’s a dream, like our dream of winning one, but we have to focus on the day-to-day, one match at a time, without getting carried away, because in the end, it’s the daily work that will pay off.”
Argentina largely retain the squad that won in Qatar, although several younger players have broken into the team. Rising talents such as Nicolas Paz, Bournemouth defender Marcos Senesi, and Strasbourg’s Valentin Barco are among the new faces aiming to make an impact at the World Cup.
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Barco’s club teammate, Joaquin Panichelli—this season’s top scorer in France’s Ligue 1—was expected to feature at the World Cup, but his participation is now uncertain following a knee injury sustained during Thursday training.
Media reports indicate that Panichelli has suffered an ACL tear, and with just three months remaining before the World Cup, he is expected to miss the tournament.
Nicolás Tagliafico said of the squad: “I think there’s a mix of young players, perhaps less experienced, but with a lot of enthusiasm and a strong desire to wear the national jersey. I have a good feeling about this team, even if sometimes it seems like they’re relaxing. But in competitions like this, the team rediscovers its best form and regains its motivation.”
Lyon’s Nicolás Tagliafico acknowledged that this year’s expanded 48-team World Cup, spread across an entire continent, will present a very different challenge compared to the tournament Argentina won in Qatar, where all matches were held in or around Doha.
“From travel to training and match venues, the truth is that nothing has been fully planned regarding the overall organisation,” he said.
“We know we’ll be based in Kansas City, but apart from that, we know very little.
“Moreover, there’s always the risk of being knocked out in the round of 32 due to some small misfortune.
“It’s a different World Cup, with many more teams, and I think it will be even more competitive.”
Argentina are set to play a friendly against Mauritius on Friday, followed by another warm-up match against Zambia on Tuesday as they continue preparations for the World Cup.
The team had initially been scheduled to face European champions Spain in the Finalissima in Doha, but the match was cancelled due to the conflict involving the United States and Israel with Iran.
Argentina will begin their World Cup title defence on June 16 against Algeria in Kansas City, before heading to Arlington for matches against Austria and Jordan.
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