Lionel Scaloni showed during the 2022 World Cup that he is one of the calmest figures in international soccer. Massive moments from Lionel Messi have failed to make him break character in the past, but perhaps something was different on Tuesday night in Peru.
Scaloni’s reaction to a breathtaking dribbling sequence from Messi right in front of his technical area went viral, but the debate arose on whether he was cheering the move or simply asking for a foul. The boss would have been justified in asking for a foul, and many people online believed that was why he threw his hands in the air.
Argentina’s No.10 humiliated Peru’s defense, Trapped against the sideline with his back to goal, he baited in a Peruvian defender, changing direction four times in five seconds. A second defender came to help, but he escaped up the sideline despite multiple attempts to bring him down by the men in red and white.
Scaloni did not react to Messi magic at the World Cup
Scaloni’s reputation as a cool and collected man on the touchline became common lore in the 2022 World Cup Final in Qatar. When Argentina scored the opening goal of the game against France on a Leo Messi penalty kick, players and staff on the bench swarmed with excitement, while the Argentina boss stood still.
Argentina went on to win the unforgettable final and lift its third World Cup. Despite his lack of emotion during the game, it was a huge success for the man who Diego Maradona once famously said was “not even capable of directing traffic.”