ABU DHABI: Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said on Tuesday he is wary of the threat posed by their World Cup-opening rivals Saudi Arabia.
The Argentines, who have landed in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland, will take on the Green Falcons in their first game in Qatar on November 22 at Lusail Stadium.
La Albiceleste are currently in Abu Dhabi, where they will wrap up their World Cup preparations with a friendly game against UAE at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday before heading to Doha.
“We know Saudi Arabia well; we watched them a few days ago against Panama. It’s a very good team, a technically strong team with fast players, similar to the UAE,” Scaloni told reporters in a press conference at Al Nahyan Stadium on Tuesday.
“They will make things difficult for us. On top of that it is our first game of the World Cup, which is always difficult.
“It’s on a continent that is quite particular. But, well, I repeat, at a World Cup I think everyone is difficult. It would be ridiculous to say that it’s not a difficult rival because it’s definitely a difficult rival and also it’s our first rival of this World Cup.”
With PSG superstar Lionel Messi at the helm, Argentina are looking to win their first World Cup since 1986.
At 44 years of age, Scaloni, who guided Argentina to their first major trophy in 28 years at the 2021 Copa America, is the youngest coach leading a side at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Scaloni’s main message to his players is for them to “enjoy” their experience at the World Cup, and he insists there is no added pressure on their shoulders, despite being considered title favorites.
Argentina are on a 35-game unbeaten run and haven’t lost a match since 2019.
It is a situation reminiscent of their pre-2002 stretch when they had an excellent qualifying campaign only to exit the World Cup from the group stage.
“We don’t have pressure because at the end this is football, we’re going to play a football World Cup,” said Scaloni.
“We’re conscious what football represents for Argentina but it’s sport and that’s why we have to step on the pitch and do our own thing, we have to come out and play the way we know how to. And then there are a lot of unknowns.
“In 2002, that was a clear example where Argentina was better than the rival and they still got knocked out.
“Despite the disappointment of losing, the people still recognized that the team was one of the best and they didn’t deserve to get knocked out of the World Cup, but football is like this and if we believe that we will win just by decree [just because the people say so] then that would be a mistake.
“And that has happened, not only with Argentina, but with other teams. We’re going to try to give our best and try to get as far as we can.”
Meanwhile, UAE boss Rodolfo Arruabarrena will briefly have to discard his loyalties to his native Argentina when he leads the hosts in Wednesday’s sold-out game.
Arruabarrena, who took over the UAE national team early this year, joked on the eve of the match that he will instruct his players to avoid making any moves on Messi.
“It is a match that is very important and we know that we will face a team that is one of the candidates to reach the final of the World Cup,” said Arruabarrena.
“As an Argentinian, I know what it means to the society and the moment they are going through. They will be so happy if they go on to win the World Cup. But they know it will not be easy. I hope everyone who comes to the match will enjoy it. It will be a fantastic show and we want to avoid any injuries for either team.”
He added: “It is also a very important moment for my team. They are very young and for many of them it will be their first time playing against such a high-level of rival.”
Argentina will face the UAE at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday at 19:30 local time.
