Argentina defender Tagliafico ready for first World Cup start, full of praise for Messi

After being on the bench in the opening match and playing eight minutes against Austria, Tagliafico is expected to earn a starting spot in the last match of Argentina's qualifying group.

The opponents are Jordan, already eliminated, but for Lionel Scaloni it's still a chance to see those who have played less in action. The World Cup is a long tournament if you keep advancing, and every coach needs to know who he can rely on when needed.

So, even against Jordan, Argentina will need to stay fully focused, as Tagliafico himself confirms: "We are players who always try to compete at the highest level. Our goal is to win this match too, finish the group with nine points and, if possible, without conceding a goal."

For Tagliafico, now one of the leaders of the Argentine squad, every achievement with the national team is still a source of pride.

"You don't play thinking about how many matches you'll rack up, but you work every day trying to play as many as possible. It's nice to look back and remember all the games and moments you've experienced. Now I want to keep working to add many more."

Tagliafico then spoke about his current experience with Argentina:

"For me, it's an honour. Often you don't stop to reflect on the milestones you're reaching because you're focused on playing and improving. But I'm enjoying this moment immensely."

Winning mentality

According to Tagliafico, the foundation of Argentina's success is above all the team's mentality.

"Every player who joins the national team wants to give their all for the team and for their teammates. When you bring together 15 or 20 players with the same mentality, it becomes very difficult for any opponent to face you."

He then adds: "If you add the technical quality of the players to this mentality, you get a truly competitive team. I think this is one of the key factors that allows us to keep achieving great results."

Finally, a thought on Messi.

"Leo is at the same level as in the 2022 World Cup, maybe even better. We're really enjoying having him and I think he's also experiencing this moment with great calm. What we need to do is not put pressure on him, or on ourselves. The team keeps working with the same harmony as always and things will happen as they're meant to."