SOCCER: No clear favourites for World Cup, says Argentina's Scaloni ahead of Egypt clash

ATLANTA — Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni believes the 2026 FIFA World Cup has become one of the most unpredictable tournaments in recent memory, with traditional football powerhouses finding it difficult to dominate their opponents.

The defending champions head into Tuesday's Round of 16 match against Egypt after surviving a major scare against Cape Verde. Although Argentina won all three of its group-stage matches, Cape Verde pushed the South Americans to extra time before Scaloni's side secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Argentina's close call reflects a broader trend throughout the tournament. France, the runner-up at the 2022 World Cup, needed a penalty to defeat Paraguay in the Round of 16, while Spain edged Portugal with a stoppage-time winner. Meanwhile, Brazil and Germany have already been eliminated.

"I think this World Cup is very tricky for everyone. It seems there is no clear favorite," Scaloni told reporters on Monday.

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

Scaloni said the demanding schedule has affected the overall quality of play, with many players arriving at the tournament after long club seasons.

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

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

Despite his assessment of the tournament, Scaloni expressed satisfaction with Argentina's performances so far.

"Argentina's level is acceptable," he 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."

The Argentine coach also pointed to challenging playing conditions, including travel demands, high temperatures, and pitch quality, as factors that have made it difficult for teams to consistently perform at their best.

"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," he said.

Scaloni added that Argentina's resilience has been just as important as its technical ability, particularly during its victory over Cape Verde.

"When things don't go your way or the opponent is making things difficult, then you can resort to grit, intensity, and the spirit that we have in our DNA," he said.

"This team has that. You can play better or worse, but when you can't play well, you need all of that. Otherwise, you're out. I am convinced that if we didn't resort to our character in the last match, we would be out." -Reporting by Trevor StynesEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters