World Cup misery leaves question mark over tearful Scaloni's future with Argentina

Scaloni, 48, was bidding to become only the second manager in history to retain the trophy, having led his country to success in Qatar in 2022.

But European champions Spain had the edge, with Ferran Torres settling matters in extra-time to secure a 1-0 win for Luis de la Fuente's side.

Contracted until the end of December, a distraught Scaloni hinted the end may be near during an emotional post-match press conference.

With tears in his eyes, he said: “I'm going to speak to the president [of the AFA, Claudio Tapia]. I've got a rough idea of what I want to do.

“I'll see out my contract and then we'll see. Honestly, I feel I need time to think as well because I don't know if we will ever be able to do something this big again... something everyone dreamed of.

“We tried right until the end to give everything as a coaching staff — and the players did the same. I think it's only fair that I take some time to think about it.

“This place is wonderful, simply wonderful. It's a dream to be here. Not in my wildest dreams did I or any of us in the coaching staff think we would be here.

“So you need a lot of things. You have to reset and build a group like this again. Recreating something like this is a huge task and it hurts. It hurts deeply. I'm sorry.”

With the game deadlocked and heading towards an extra 30 minutes, Enzo Fernandez saw red when he was awarded a second yellow card.

That left Scaloni’s men with a mountain to climb and not even Lionel Messi, who remained on the pitch until the bitter end, could produce the magic required to inspire Argentina to victory.

Leandro Paredes was red-carded as ugly scenes broke out on the pitch at full-time as tensions boiled over — but Scaloni refused to let his side’s ill-discipline overshadow their efforts throughout the tournament.

He said: “I will be eternally grateful to these players for giving us another World Cup final and for competing until the very end. Spain were the better side — that is the truth.

“I'll always cherish what they've done and what it means to have come this far. We have to value that enormously because it's incredibly difficult.

“We know how to win — and we have to know how to lose as well. We lost the match and we need to accept it. But that doesn't mean we'll just forget everything we did to get here.

“I want to thank the fans, my players and the country, and tell them that we gave everything. Above all, when you lose, you have no choice but to pick yourself up and go again.”

Whether or not Argentina get to dust themselves off with Scaloni in charge remains to be seen. It would seem, however, that he will not be in the hotseat for another major tournament.

DAZN/FIFA

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