"I got a message from my brother telling me he was crying and I think you need to have a little more common sense. I don't think you should play more than a game of football," explained Scaloni, looking upset, after his team's victory against Mexico (2-0).

On November 26, the Albiceleste moved on a thread, long paralyzed by the anxiety of a possible elimination after two matches, while Lionel Messi and his family had landed in Qatar in the shoes of title candidates.

And when the same Messi liberated an entire group and an entire country with his goal, TV footage showed Pablo Aimar, Scaloni's assistant and former Argentina midfielder with more than 50 caps, burst into tears on the bench. touches.

"We have to make the players feel that it's a football match, otherwise it will always be difficult. There is a feeling of relief but it's difficult to make people understand that the sun will shine tomorrow, that we win. or not”, reacted Scaloni, decidedly not thrilled by this overflow of emotions.

Since the beginning of the tournament, the coach tries on the contrary to promote serenity, moderation and wisdom.

"We are not candidates for anything, we are favorites for nothing. We are a team that will fight but we must not believe that we are going to be world champions because we won tonight", he said. -he still launched Wednesday after the qualification of his team for the 1/8 finals.

Argentinian players on December 1, 2022 in Doha © Glyn KIRK / AFP

But didn't Scaloni embark on an impossible mission in a country that knows no half measures when it comes to its football team?

"Argentina fans are the proudest and most passionate. They are fans who never leave you alone, in good times and bad times, even more so in bad times," the Marseille defender told AFP. Leonardo Balerdi, who has two selections with Argentina.

"We see in this World Cup, and it's been seen before, that even if for people in Argentina it's economically difficult, we always bring a lot of people to the World Cup and we always notice them. makes it unstoppable,” he added.

"Peripheral Country"

"Argentina is a very peripheral country in most areas and the World Cup is the moment when the Argentines feel in a central position", explained to AFP Diego Murzi, doctor of Social Sciences at the San Martin University of Buenos Aires, currently in Doha.

"There was a history between football and Argentina. It was consolidated with Maradona and then with Messi. That explains this link between the Argentines and the World Cup," he added.

Lionel Messi on November 30, 2022 in Doha © Odd ANDERSEN / AFP

"During the tournament, football becomes the only subject of conversation possible, unlike what is happening in Europe, where the link with the World Cup, this one in particular, is undoubtedly less strong", still judged the sociologist.

In the midst of all this, the players find themselves both carried and crushed, between fervor and pressure, aware that again on Saturday, when they will face Australia for a place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, c an entire country is going to stop and hope.

"We are like that, we are passionate. We are united as Argentines and we have a unique connection with our people. There is a mutual love which is very beautiful," defender Lisandro Martinez explained on Tuesday.

Lionel Scaloni is right, Sunday the sun will shine whether Argentina beat Australia or not.

It will just glow a little brighter if you win.

© 2022 AFP