Lionel Scaloni left his post-match press conference in tears when talking about his future after Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain on Sunday. The 1-0 loss in New Jersey crushed Argentina's hopes of back-to-back titles, but the match was overshadowed by ill discipline from his squad.
Argentina failed to register a shot on target until extra time, and Enzo Fernandez was sent off for two bookable offences. After the final whistle, Leandro Paredes appeared to throw Spain's Gavi to the floor and Nahuel Molina seemed to punch opposition skipper Rodri. Some of Scaloni's players were branded disgraceful for their performance.
“Messi skips Argentina's bus parade after World Cup final defeat, while manager Scaloni leaves press conference in tears.”
Despite the defeat, manager Scaloni and 15 players landed at Ezeiza International Airport to a hero's welcome on Monday evening. Argentine Football Association president Chiqui Tapia, Scaloni and veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi led the group across a red carpet before they boarded an open-top bus that travelled through Buenos Aires towards the AFA training centre.
But Lionel Messi was not among them. The star flew back to Argentina separately from most of his team-mates, arriving at Islas Malvinas International Airport at 6:28am local time on Tuesday after a stopover in Miami. He headed straight to his home in Rosario, greeted by fans but opting not to join the parade.
Eleven players in total did not travel with the main squad. Rodrigo De Paul, Cristian Romero, Julian Alvarez, Geronimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Nico Paz, Giuliano Simeone, Lautaro Martinez, Molina and Fernandez remained in the United States, likely to start their holidays from there. Messi was the 11th, choosing to rest with his family in the gated community of Kentucky in Funes.
Scaloni, meanwhile, broke down in front of reporters as he discussed his future, leaving the news conference in tears. The contrasting scenes of a tearful manager and a divided squad raise questions about the path forward for La Albiceleste after a defeat that exposed more than just a loss on the scoreboard.