Experts: Argentina's comebacks rooted in resilience and pressure

Argentina's run to the 2026 World Cup final has been marked by extraordinary comebacks, with the team rallying from behind in four consecutive knockout matches. The semifinal against England was the latest example, with two goals in the 85th and 90+2 minutes to secure a 2-1 victory. Coach Lionel Scaloni noted, "Creo que este equipo cuando mejor juega es cuando está en dificultad" Source: elnacionalve.

The psychology behind the resilience

Experts attribute the team's never-say-die attitude to a combination of national character and rigorous training. Psychologist Pablo Nigro, president of the Argentine Association of Sports Psychology, explained that the squad "ve la presión como una oportunidad de superarse" and transforms pressure into a positive force Source: elcolombiano. Anthropologist Federico Czesli highlighted the role of youth development, where values like "sacrificio" and "humildad" are instilled, along with a cultural "prohibición de aflojar" from fans Source: elcolombiano. Fan Matías Cirelli linked the resilience to Argentina's history of adversity: "Los argentinos nunca vamos a dar una batalla por perdida aunque el panorama sea totalmente adverso" Source: elnacionalve.

Scaloni's long-term project

Both articles underscore the importance of Scaloni's tenure since 2018, which has brought four titles and a winning mentality around Lionel Messi. Nigro pointed to "un proceso de trabajo muy largo" as the foundation of the team's ability to handle pressure Source: elcolombiano.