The special connection between Algeria and Argentina coaches ahead of game in KC
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Scaloni and Petković, former Lazio colleagues, still share mutual respect.
- Argentina opens its World Cup defense Tuesday at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead).
- Petković said he prepared a Plan A and a Plan B and aims for Algeria to be competitive.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni seemingly provided bulletin-board material when asked last month about Algeria and its coach, Vladimir Petković, ahead of their World Cup match in Kansas City.
“He never played me, I was always on the bench; when I next see him, I’ll have a few words for him,” Scaloni said, per La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Petković was the Lazio manager when Scaloni played for the Italian side during the 2012-13 season. But there really are no hard feelings.
“But he was right,” Scaloni told the Italian newspaper. “I was nearing retirement and was more valuable to the squad as an assistant, offering guidance to my teammates. I learned a great deal tactically from Vlado. It will be a pleasure to face him in America.”
That meeting will take place Tuesday at Kansas City Stadium (née Arrowhead) as Argentina opens its World Cup defense against Algeria.
Scaloni, who was coach when Argentina won the 2022 World Cup, and Petković have a mutual respect, and it showed when they shared a hug Monday.
Although the coaches know and admire one another, they have the same goal Tuesday: secure the win and the three points that come with it in the Group J meeting.
“Algeria is a similar rival to Morocco,” Scaloni said Monday at a news conference at Arrowhead Stadium, “plays quite similar, has great players. It has a great coach, whom I also know, and who makes his team play very well.”
Morocco tied five-time champion Brazil 1-1 earlier in the World Cup, a match that Scaloni referenced.
“Looking at the Brazil-Morocco match, I think that serves as a good example; you can’t get complacent, right?” Scaloni said. “It’s a good team and has players at a very high level, so it will be a good test.”
And Petković hopes to frustrate Argentina and star player Lionel Messi.
“I have prepared a Plan A and a Plan B,” Petković said at a news conference that followed Scaloni’s. “We have tremendous respect for Argentina. It’s one of the big favorites and the reigning world champion. But we’ve come to be competitive, not just to make up the numbers.”
Argentina is a big favorite, and no matter the outcome Tuesday night, the friendship between Petković and Scaloni will remain strong.
“It’s a great pleasure to see him again because the last time we were together was in Washington (for the World Cup draw),” Petković said. “I have a wonderful relationship with Leo and I hope that continues.”
