The 48-year-old described the emotional aftermath of the final, saying: "Sadness and joy have intertwined, tears and smiles, anguish and tranquility."

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni could not hold back his emotions once again as he returned to his hometown of Pujato on Wednesday, where hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome him home despite La Albiceleste's heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Argentina face a stark choice from here on: modernise their system to match the demands of the modern game, or wander straight back into the wilderness for another quarter-century of soul-searching.

Two of the most contrasting scenes of the FIFA World Cup unfolded within the space of just 24 hours.

The 48-year-old was appointed manager after Argentina crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the round of 16 amid skepticism about his lack of head coaching experience and only brief time as an assistant.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted Spain were the better team following his team's 1-0 extra-time defeat in the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday.

The stakes could not be higher than they are at a World Cup final. And the grand finale at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on Monday (1:00am Bangladesh Time) could hardly have been scripted better, with Lionel Messi's Argentina taking on Lamine Yamal's Spain in a showdown set to bring the curtain down on the biggest edition in the competition's history.

Argentina may already have scaled the summit of world football in Qatar, but the reigning champions have shown throughout this World Cup that lifting the trophy once has done little to dull their appetite for another.

Football has long celebrated "Fergie Time", while Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid became synonymous with dramatic late comebacks in the UEFA Champions League. Scaloni's Argentina now belong in that conversation.

For much of the 2026 World Cup, Argentina's journey has appeared to rest on the timeless brilliance of Lionel Messi. Yet, as the defending champions stand one game away from retaining their crown, it has become increasingly clear that Lionel Scaloni's side have found heroes beyond their captain.

That is why Argentina are back in the World Cup final, because every time they were tested, they chose to fight instead of surrender

The defining narrative of this match lies in the sheer warfare on the pitch.

Following the thrilling encounter, players and coaches from both sides reflected on the dramatic contest.

Captain Harry Kane insisted England's intention was never to sit back after taking the lead against Argentina, but admitted his side were overwhelmed by a relentless surge that turned a World Cup semifinal they seemed destined to win into another chapter of tournament heartbreak.

"Speechless. This is a joy for our country and our people. The other day I said this group never ceases to amaze me, and tonight they proved it again."

England have made three changes to their starting side for the World Cup semifinal against Argentina on Wednesday, with manager Thomas Tuchel bringing Reece James and Djed Spence into the back four, while opposing coach Lionel Scaloni makes one switch.

For Messi and his squad, the lesson of 1990 is clear: when you are the champions, the world presents a treacherous road. Sometimes, they block the road entirely.

Standing tall, chest puffed out, and arms outstretched, Jude Bellingham’s trademark celebration has become one of the defining images of England’s World Cup.

The bottom line is that both teams have repeatedly found a way to win even when the odds appeared stacked against them. Neither, however, has produced the convincing, dominant display expected of a potential champion.

Suffering remains an unavoidable, deeply embedded experience for this team; a tax Argentina always seems destined to pay before they can taste glory, or otherwise. The question is whether Scaloni can survive the next wave of it by standing still.