Scaloni Blames Exhaustion, Not Referee, for Argentina’s World Cup Final Loss
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni refused to point fingers at the referee after their 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He acknowledged that Spain were simply the better side on the night. Scaloni highlighted his team’s lack of energy and blunt attack, noting they failed to register a single shot on target while Spain racked up 20 attempts with 12 on goal. He also spoke openly about the impact of Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández receiving a second yellow card late in stoppage time. "We lost because they were the better team. We probably arrived at the final running on empty—that’s the reality," Scaloni said, as reported by Albiceleste Talk. He praised Spain’s performance and urged his squad to learn from the defeat. Captain Lionel Messi echoed his coach’s view, admitting the pain of the loss but congratulating Spain on their victory and recognising their superiority.
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