Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has insisted that the first match at a FIFA World Cup is never decisive.
But that does not mean the defending champions want a repeat of what happened at the start of their Qatar 2022 campaign, when they suffered a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game before bouncing back with victories over Poland and Mexico, then eliminating the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals and ultimately beating France on penalties in the final to claim a third World Cup title for "La Albiceleste".
Speaking on Monday evening ahead of Argentina's opening match at the 2026 World Cup against Algeria, Scaloni said: "Our experience from the last tournament confirms that the first match is not decisive. I mean, it is an important match, but it doesn't decide anything."
No national team has ever won the World Cup in two consecutive editions except Italy in 1938 and Brazil in 1962.
The Argentina coach added: "We are happy, we trust in ourselves, and our situation is excellent."
He continued: "All Argentina players are world-class. Some have been injured, some are ready, but this time the squad has no injured players except Nico Paz — I mean, no one is suffering from a serious injury."
On Julián Álvarez, Scaloni said: "We have taken good care of him, so he will be in his best form. His recovery is important because he will be a strong addition for us against Algeria."
He added: "The whole world wants to see Messi on the pitch, not just Argentina fans, because his mark and influence on the field reaches every corner of the world."
Concluding his remarks, Lionel Scaloni stressed: "There are no easy opponents. Every team deserved to be at the World Cup. We are preparing very carefully for Algeria — it is a squad with outstanding players, and it will be a good test for us. I repeat: it will not be a decisive match."