What is the mood of the national team after the debut slide: the signs that help to believe in the recovery

“Football is a state of mind”he ever said George Valdano. It is not known for sure whether royalties should be paid for the use of the phrase or if the author is someone else and the world champion in Mexico 1986 was simply the one who popularized it. The concrete thing is that, after the uncalculated defeat against Saudi Arabia in the world premiere in Qatar 2022, that idea-force acts as a trigger think of the impact of the 1-2 draw on the face of the Argentina national team and, above all, how the team will react to Saturday’s match against Mexico, again in the fateful Lusail.

How is the mood of the team led by Lionel Scaloni? This is the big question everyone is asking. This Wednesday, during the 15 minutes that the doors of Qatar University opened to showcase the practice, the issue was also raised by foreign journalists. “Is Argentina in shock?” They asked over and over again the accredited members closest to the national team.

The message that came out of the Albiceleste bunker was clear. It was palpable in the mixed zone, when the shot was too fresh and the players felt an interesting self-criticism and, at the same time, tried to appear whole and focused on moving on quickly.

It’s worth going back in time another unpleasant memory in blue and white: the debut in Russia 2018 culminated with the 1-1 draw against weak Iceland, which included a penalty missed by Lionel Messi. It was a huge blow to swallow and then it all went downhill. Even if the group is not the same -only seven players are left of that team-, the face after the crash on the Lusail is completely different. Why, as far as she could find out clarion, the sensations are also different. And there are reasons to believe that this is the case.

An important fact is this Lionel Scaloni was a member of that technical body and lived, sideways, that situation that was beginning to get out of the way George Sampaoli and which led to the hard defeat against Croatia. The current DT has seen how this crisis scenario has been managed (badly) and now, as a matter of experience, he has several tools to manage adversity.

On the other hand, beyond the fact that some intensity and operational problems have been observed from the press room, in the property that the AFA owns at the Qatar University they are convinced that the team had some good moments this Tuesday in Lusail and that they would have had to settle the match in the first half if it hadn’t been for the three disallowed goals, two for millimeters. They understand that the coup of two goals in six minutes has generated confusion. And that he couldn’t come back from that strong impact.

However, beyond that conviction, the main difference is that this group is much more consolidated and convinced that there is football and character to straighten the course against Mexico on Saturday. The spirit isn’t skyrocketing, it’s clear, but it isn’t cracked either. This was reflected in all the internal talks that took place in what was left of Tuesday after the slide against Saudi Arabia. And it has strengthened thanks to the support of relatives who went to visit the players this Wednesday. Feet, more than ever, on the ground.

By way of example, it is also enough to review the slightly more recent past to understand how this group works internally which, based on trust and a consolidated style of play, has remained unbeaten for 36 games.

A similar situation was experienced in the Copa América 2019, in the first official competition of the Scaloni era. The team started with a loss (0-2 with Colombia) and continued with a draw (1-1 with Paraguay). In an extreme situation, more than three out of four passed -the third had to play a playoff-, the team beat Qatar 2-0 -yes, you read that right, Qatar- to go through to the round. In that tournament we find the flame of the first communion which served to amalgamate the group.

Not even the first in the Copa América 2021 was happy, the one that ended with Messi lifting his first trophy with the national team at the Maracana. A pale 1-1 against Chile, in Rio de Janeiro, which had set off some alarm bells due to the malfunctioning of the team. Immediately afterwards, with the exception of the 1-1 draw with Colombia who decided on penalties turning into a hero -and a meme- I drew Martinez, the team has always won. Furthermore, the identity of La Scaloneta was confirmed there.

Therefore, if football is really a state of mind, the argentinian national team has arguments to recalculate and start over. The response they will have on the pitch remains to be seen. Because it’s important to feel good, but you also need to play better.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.