The China Mail - Lionel Scaloni: Argentina's mastermind marks 100 games in charge

The 48-year-old has transformed a team led by the incomparable Lionel Messi into serial trophy winners in South America and on the global stage.

Scaloni was a relative unknown with scant coaching experience when he replaced Jorge Sampaoli on an interim basis weeks after the 2018 World Cup.

He has since masterminded two Copa America triumphs, in 2021 and 2024, and led his team to victory in the Finalissima -- an intercontinental match between the European and South American champions -- in 2022.

But his crowning glory was winning a third World Cup for Argentina in Qatar in 2022, defeating France in a captivating final.

Messi's trophy lift at Lusail Stadium marked the end of an agonising 36-year wait dating back to 1986, when Diego Maradona's team triumphed in Mexico.

Maradona himself had voiced scepticism over the appointment of Scaloni, a former defender who played for a series of clubs including Deportivo La Coruna and Lazio.

"Scaloni is a great guy, but he couldn't even direct traffic," were the harsh words of the Argentine great, who favoured a return for Gerardo Martino.

Scaloni's experience on the international stage was admittedly limited.

He won only seven international caps as a player, featuring briefly alongside a young Messi at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The former right-back served as Sampaoli's assistant during the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where Argentina were eliminated in the round of 16.

That marked the end of the road for Sampaoli and a unique opportunity for Scaloni, whose caretaker stint turned into a glorious reign.

The Albiceleste are now also known as the "Scaloneta" in honour of their leader, who has built the most successful team on the planet in recent years.

- 'People's team' -

Scaloni has taken charge of 99 Argentina matches, recording 72 wins, 18 draws and nine defeats -- including a 36-game unbeaten run between July 2019 and November 2022.

He will reach his century on Friday in Miami against newcomers Cape Verde in the World Cup round of 32.

Argentina's route to a potential semi-final looks relatively favourable.

Scaloni admitted he had not expected to reach 100 matches but said he was not thinking about his legacy yet as he targets back-to-back titles.

"To be honest, I haven't really thought about it," he said.

"It's not that I worry about what people will say -- what matters to me is that people identified with the team's approach, with the feeling that we were a squad that truly represented its people, and nothing else.

"That alone would be enough."

"I never imagined reaching 100 matches in my life, he added. "It's a huge number, especially in this jersey. It will be a wonderful moment when it happens."

Humble, composed, and respectful of Argentina's footballing and cultural identity, Scaloni has forged an incredibly tight-knit group around Messi, the team's undisputed talisman.

He provided the tactical foundations and the man-management skills that enabled Messi to finally achieve the success he had long craved with the national team.

The 39-year-old, leading the race for the World Cup Golden Boot with six goals, has netted 58 times in 74 matches under Scaloni (an average of 0.78), compared with 65 goals in his previous 128 games (0.51).

The Argentine Football Association (AFA), according to local media, has already begun negotiations to extend Scaloni's contract, currently set to expire on December 31, by another five years.

The head coach, who briefly hinted at stepping down in 2023 after beating Brazil at the Maracana in the South American World Cup qualifiers, has indicated that he is open to renewing his deal.

"Right now, the focus is on the World Cup," he told Radio La Red. "It's not an urgent matter for me, and I don't think it is for the AFA either."

But he added: "If we all agree and things work out, I don't foresee any problems."

J.Liv--ThChM