"It Seems There Is No Clear Favourite", Says Lionel Scaloni

ATLANTA: Defending champions Argentina will enter the knockout stage with a perfect record, but head coach Lionel Scaloni believes the results across the tournament show why there is no clear favourite for this year's FIFA World Cup 2026.

Argentina faces Egypt in the Round of 16 on Tuesday after progressing through the group stage with three victories. Their unbeaten run, however, has not been without difficulty. The South American side needed extra time to overcome Cape Verde in the previous round despite entering the match as overwhelming favourites.

Scaloni Points to Unpredictable Tournament

Speaking ahead of the Argentina vs Egypt knockout fixture, Lionel Scaloni says about world cup favourites that the traditional hierarchy in international football has become far less evident. The Argentina coach believes leading nations have struggled to produce the level many expected before the competition began.

"I think this World Cup is very tricky for everyone, it seems there is no clear favourite," Scaloni said.

"There are no national teams that, as we used to see before the World Cup, were clear favourites. The conditions are also very different from what we had seen in prior editions.

"And I understand that most players have played a great deal of matches, and that is a lot of games on the legs. And that is why maybe the level is not the one we are used to seeing.

"Beyond the fact that there are four or five main favourites, those teams are not showcasing the football that we would expect before the World Cup."

His assessment reflects a tournament that has already produced several unexpected outcomes. France required a late penalty to get past Paraguay, Spain needed a stoppage-time goal against Portugal, while Brazil and Germany have already been eliminated.

Argentina Focused on Improvement

Despite highlighting the challenges, Scaloni believes his squad has handled the opening phase well and remains satisfied with the team's overall performances.

"Argentina's level is acceptable," the manager said.

"We won the four matches, and I think that is a reason to be satisfied. There are always things that we can fine-tune, even when you win.

"This World Cup is difficult. The travel, the heat, the pitches, the grass... sometimes the ball doesn't move well. There are a lot of factors that make it hard to really show your superiority."

Argentina now turn their attention to Egypt, aiming to extend their unbeaten run and secure a place in the quarter-finals.