Argentina thrashed Bolivia 4-0 at home in a friendly match. After the game, Argentina coach Scaloni attended a press conference to answer questions from the media. 

Good evening. A new journey, a new path has begun. I'd like to ask you, beyond the competitive and tactical aspects, how do you feel tonight? Your contract expires in December, but I believe you are also looking for motivation to continue coaching. For example, today eight thousand children, accompanied by their teachers, came to the stadium for the first time in their lives to watch the national team play. Aside from competitive results, does this also encourage you, to some extent, to decide to stay?

Good evening, everyone. Honestly, my first feeling was being incredibly moved during the national anthem before the match, because we saw and heard the children in the stands singing it loudly. You could tell they were just kids. To be honest, apart from the victory itself, this is the most beautiful positive signal we take away from here. Seeing the children who came to the stadium, their eyes full of anticipation, enjoying the game to the fullest, watching their idols, and singing the national anthem loudly as if they were an extra player on the field – it was truly wonderful.

As for the match analysis, my feeling is that the lads approached this game with a great sense of responsibility, showing the spirit expected when wearing this jersey. Everyone was eager to contribute on the field. Regardless of the score, it was clear that the team has a very distinct tactical identity, and no matter who plays, we will resolutely implement it, which is reassuring.

From a personal perspective, was there any player's performance that particularly impressed you tonight? Also, the team played very steadily and rigorously, which has almost become instinct for the team. Is this something you specifically emphasize in training, or is it a natural quality of the entire team?

After such a big win, it's actually hard to single out and praise any one player. The whole team played a very complete game. I am very satisfied with everyone's attitude towards the match, especially the veterans who have been with the national team for some time. As I said yesterday at the press conference, they came with a strong desire to win, and everyone showed a willingness to give their all for this team. Everyone comes to the national team with joy; no one is forced to come, and this is fully reflected when they step onto the field. In my coaching philosophy, there is only one attitude when playing for the national team. Afterwards, on the field, you might win, you might lose, you might play well, or you might play poorly, but at all times, maintaining profound reverence for the rich history of this jersey is the only attitude to adopt. We do emphasize this to the players during training, but in reality, I think it doesn't even need much explanation. Of course, reminders are still necessary because this is fundamentally the cornerstone of the national team.

Today, newcomers like Román Vega, Flores, and Valentín Gómez made their national team debuts. In your tenure as Argentina coach, 68 players have now made their debuts. This means you deeply understand the importance of renewal, scouting, and giving opportunities to new players. Although this is off-topic, I'm going to presume you've already renewed your contract. Besides looking to the future and starting a new phase, what is your biggest aspiration for the journey ahead?

Giving a player their debut is an exciting moment for any coach; as a national team coach, that feeling is even stronger. From the moment those young players step onto the field, or in the heat of the game just before they're about to come on as substitutes, you can see it in their eyes and expressions. You can truly feel the weight of wearing this jersey and how much sweat and hardship they've put in to get to this point. How many Argentine players dream their entire lives of wearing the national team jersey and making their debut? They are incredibly fortunate. For us coaching staff, it is a great source of pride to open the door for these young players. We believe now is the best time for them to enjoy being called up to the national team and fully display their potential. Although the pressure of wearing this jersey might have been greater in the past, now is a good time for them to unleash their talent. Seeing their expressions as they prepared for their debut fills us with pride and satisfaction, because we can't help but remember our own national team debuts, a memory you never forget.

After that great World Cup final, it feels so powerful and wonderful to see you here again. Watching the Argentina national team play in an inland province was very impressive, even though the stadium's capacity was somewhat limited today. You are currently the only person who can make any request to Claudio Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association. Can you ask him to ensure that in future FIFA international breaks, at least 50% of the matches are regularly scheduled to be held in Argentina's inland provinces? Historically, over 90% of Argentina's national team players have come from the interior.

How should I answer that... (laughs) You said everything I wanted to say! I can't determine a specific percentage, but whenever we have the opportunity, we will definitely strive to play in the inland provinces; there's no doubt about it, because all Argentine people deserve the chance to support the national team up close. However, the reality is that River Plate's Monumental Stadium has an extremely large capacity, and everyone knows the huge impact that playing in the capital can have. This is beyond my jurisdiction, but I promise we will play more games in the interior, just as Córdoba fans enthusiastically welcomed us today. It's a truly wonderful thing to personally experience the deep affection of the fans.

Hello, Lionel. In this new phase, you face many new challenges. When asked about Messi's absence this week, you said that this team knows how to operate without Messi, and the team has been proving that on the field. These young players have very solid backing because there are experienced veterans in the team who have long supported them and helped them integrate into the national team. Is your current core challenge to compensate for Messi's absence by relying on the entire team? And at the same time, how do you maintain the fervent anticipation that Argentine fans have for this champion team whenever the national team plays?

Everyone knows the answer: Messi is irreplaceable; he is unique. What we need to do is continue with the same football philosophy, which is to advance into the opponent's half by controlling possession, through continuous passing and movement, and through tight team coordination. I believe this is the foundation and core identity of this Argentina team, and this principle will not waver, no matter who is on the field. Undoubtedly, having him changes the tactical dimension qualitatively, but the team's overall style remains consistent. If there is a challenge, it is to keep this tactical style going. We need to make every new young player joining the group understand that this is how we operate. Of course, on-field tactical details might be slightly adjusted—for example, sometimes playing with wingers, sometimes with four midfielders, sometimes with two strikers, sometimes with a lone striker—but the cornerstone of dominating the game through possession will never change. The challenge is to continue playing this way.

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