The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) chose Lionel Scaloni as the best technical director of the national teams in 2023. In this way, the Argentine coach won this recognition for the second time in a row, given that he had also obtained it in 2022.
On this occasion, the national team driver –current champion of the Copa América and the World Cup– came first with 185 points, well above the Frenchman Didier Deschamps, who came second with 63 points less.
In 2023, the Argentine national team played 10 matches: four friendlies and six for the South American Football Confederation’s ranking for the 2026 World Cup. Of these, they won nine and lost one. This great work allowed him to finish first in the qualifiers.
After winning the World Cup in Qatar, the Argentine team resumed activity in March with two friendly matches: they beat Panama 2-0 and Curacao 7-0. Already in June they toured Asia, where they faced Australia again (they had been their rivals in the round of 16 of the World Cup) and Indonesia: in both cases they won 2-0.
In September the team led by Scaloni began its journey towards qualification for the World Cup with victories against Ecuador in Buenos Aires and Bolivia in La Paz. In October they also won against Paraguay at the Monumental and against Peru in Lima. In November they were defeated by Uruguay at the Bombonera (it was the only defeat of 2023), but then They responded by beating Brazil at the Maracaná.
In 2024, the Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will try to retain the Copa América title won in 2021. Photo: Angela Weiss / AFP.The Argentine team will return to officially compete only in June 2024, when the Copa América will be played: will share Group A with Peru, Chile and the winner of the playoffs between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. In any case, it is very likely that he will play two friendlies in March, even if there is no confirmation on this yet.
After the Copa América, the team will resume its commitments for the qualifiers. He will play six games during the year: two in September, two in October and two in November.
Here’s what the IFFHS ranking looked like
1- Lionel Scaloni (Argentina): 185
2- Didier Deschamps (France): 112
3- Roberto Martínez (Portugal): 61
4- Luis De La Fuente (Spain): 56
5- Marcelo Bielsa (Uruguay): 43
6- Hajime Moriyasu (Japan): 20
7- Gareth Southgate (England): 19
8- Sylvinho (Albania): 16
9- Walid Regragui (Morocco): 15
10- Steve Clarke (Scotland): 7
Source: Clarin
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