Lionel Scaloni plays down World Cup pressure on Argentina as they prepare for UAE friendly

Manager insists Copa America champions not concerned by favourites tag ahead of Qatar finals

Argentina's Lionel Messi trains at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Monday, November 14, 2022. Argentina face the UAE in a friendly match at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in the capital on Wednesday. All images by Chris Whiteoak / The National

Argentina's Angel Di Maria, right, enjoys a joke with teammate Leo Paredes at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina midfielder Guido Rodriguez during the training session in Abu Dhabi.

The Argentina side train at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina's Lionel Messi in the dugout at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina defender Juan Foyth during training.

Argentina attacker Lionel Messi.

Argentina attacker Julian Alvarez, who plays his club football for Manchester City

Argentina's Lionel Messi with teammates in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina midfielder Leo Paredes.

Argentina midfielder Guido Rodriguez.

Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul training at Al Nahyan Stadium.

The Argentina side train at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina attacker Angel Di Maria.

Argentina attacker Lionel Messi training at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, left.

Argentina training at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina attacker Lionel Messi.

Argentina goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

Argentina training at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina fans at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina's Lionel Messi with teammates at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina's Lionel Messi at Al Nahyan Stadium.

Argentina training in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina train at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Argentina training at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.

Argentina's Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi.

Argentina's Lionel Messi.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has played down the pressure on his in-form side heading into the Fifa World Cup.

The Copa America champions, currently unbeaten in 35 matches, are considered by many as favourites for the tournament in Qatar, which kicks-off on Sunday.

Argentina, who won the most recent of their two global titles in 1986, take on the UAE in a friendly in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday before flying to Doha.

Speaking at a press conference at Al Nahyan Stadium – the match takes place at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium – Scaloni said: “We don't have pressure because in the end this is football, we're going to play a football World Cup.

“We're conscious what football represents for Argentina, but it's sport and that's why we have to step on the pitch and do our own thing. We have to come out and play the way we know how to. And then there are a lot of unknowns.”

Scaloni, a former Argentina international who last year led his country to a first major trophy in almost three decades, was asked about the similarities with the 2002 World Cup, when Argentina exited at the group stage after coming into the tournament with great expectations.

“Despite the disappointment of losing, the people still recognised the team was one of the best and they didn't deserve to get knocked out of the World Cup,” Scaloni said.

“But football is like this and if we believe that we will win just by decree then that would be a mistake. That has happened, not only with Argentina, but with other teams.

HOW ARGENTINA QUALIFED FOR WORLD CUP 2022: October 8, 2020. Argentina 1 (Messi pen 13’) Ecuador 0: Three points to kick-off the campaign thanks to Lionel Messi’s first-half penalty that extended their unbeaten run under manager Lionel Scaloni to eight games. "It was important to start with a win because we know how difficult the qualifiers are and all the matches are going to be as hard as this one," Messi said. Getty

October 13, 2020. Bolivia 1 (Moreno 24’) Argentina 2 (La. Martinez 45’, J Correa 79’): A late goal from Joquin Correa helped Argentina come from behind to earn their second win on the spin and their first victory in Bolivia since 2005. "We knew what this game meant to us because of its history," striker Lautaro Martinez said. "We're not going to deny that it's difficult to play here. I think this team showed lots of heart and lots of brains. We're very happy." Getty

November 12, 2020. Argentina 1 (Gonzalez 41’) Paraguay 1 (A Romero pen 21’): Argentina recovered from a goal down but dropped their first points of the campaign. Messi saw a second-half goal disallowed by VAR for a foul early in move. Defender Nicolas Otamendi said: “In the first half we were a bit uncomfortable with the pressure but … we spent almost the entire second period in their half of the field. We got the goal but unfortunately it didn't stand." Getty

November 17, 2020. Peru 0 Argentina 2 (Gonzalez 17’, La. Martinez 28’): A comfortable win thanks to goals from Nico Gonzalez and Lautaro Martinez. The win moved Argentina into second in the table, two points behind leaders Brazil. “Happy with the victory, we needed it after the game we played the other day [against Paraguay],” Lionel Messi said via Argentina’s Twitter account. “From the beginning we had a great match, the goals came and we created many, many chances.” Getty

June 3, 2021. Argentina 1 (Messi pen 23’) Chile 1 (Sanchez 36’): Honours even in Santiago del Estero in what was Argentina's first competitive outing since November with both teams looking rusty. "It's been a long time since we played together," Messi, who scored a first-half penalty after Lautaro Martinez was fouled, said. “It was a difficult game as always against Chile, happy with the result and performance even though we couldn't get the victory." Getty

June 8, 2021: Colombia 2 (Muriel pen 51’, Borja 90+4’) Argentina 2 (Romero 3’, Paredes 8’): The visitors were 2-0 up in first 10 minutes after goals from Cristian Romero and Leandro Paredes, only for Colombia to fight back and earn a late point thanks to substitute Miguel Borja. "I think we had the chances," said Argentina midfielder Rodrigo De Paul "They have a great goalkeeper. We're not happy with a draw." Getty

September 2, 2021. Venezuela 1 (Soteldo pen 90+4’) Argentina 3 (La. Martinez 45+2’, J Correa 71’, A Correa 74’): Argentina extended their unbeaten run to 21 games. The home side went down to 10 men in the first half after Adrian Mertinez was shown a straight red for fouling Lionel Messi. "I think we had a great first half, even before they were left with a man less," said Lautaro Martinez. "After the goal we had more space to work in and we are taking all three points home." AFP

September 5, 2021. Brazil v Argentina (match abandoned): Chaotic scenes as the match was called-off after five minutes when Brazilian health officials invaded the pitch to stop Argentina's England-based players from playing, saying they had breached the country's Covid-19 quarantine rules. Lionel Scaloni said: "I'm not looking to find any guilty parties. Whether something happened or not, it wasn't the right time for that intervention.” Reuters

September 9, 2021. Argentina 3 (Messi 14’, 64’, 88’) Bolivia 0: Lionel Messi’s brilliant hat-trick moved him above Pele as South America’s top international scorer with 79 goals in what was his seventh treble for the national team. “I really wanted to be able to enjoy it,” Messi said. “I waited a long time for this, I looked for it and I dreamt of it. It’s a unique moment for the way it happened after so much waiting.” Reuters

October 7, 2021. Paraguay 0 Argentina 0: The visitors fail to score in a match for the first time since June 2019 but remain unbeaten in qualifying. “We had some good moments," said Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico. "We maybe struggled to control the game. There were times when Paraguay came at us and were dangerous.” Reuters

October 10, 2021. Argentina 3 (Messi 38’, De Paul 44’, La. Martinez 62’) Uruguay 0: An easy win was started thanks to a fluke goal from Lionel Messi when his pass from 35 metres out into the area managed to sneak straight into the net. "We played a great game," said Messi. "Everything worked out perfectly. Uruguay wait for you and they generate danger. Once we got the first goal we started to find space and the goals appeared." AFP

October 14, 2021. Argentina 1 (La. Martinez 43’) Peru 0: Another win for Argentina, although they were thankful that Yoshimar Yotun missed a penalty when his strike clipped the crossbar and flew over. The win left Scaloni’s team three points behind leaders Brazil. "Those that take penalties are the great players and the rest is luck," said Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. AFP

November 12, 2021. Uruguay 0 Argentina 1 (Di Maria 7’): An early goal from Angel Di Maria was enough to earn three points as Uruguay put up more of a fight than their weak capitulation in October. "Winning today was a gigantic step. We deserve this, we have worked for this," goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said. "They needed points, playing here was hard. This Argentina has amazing courage, and when we don't play well we have to win anyway." AFP

November 16, 2021. Argentina 0 Brazil 0: Honours even in a tense game that maintained both teams’ unbeaten records and saw Argentina join their opponents in securing a place at the finals in Qatar. Lionel Scaloni said: "Winning the Copa, qualifying for the World Cup unbeaten - it was a dream. Having qualified so far in advance, in a really difficult qualifying section, is something we should be proud of." AFP

January 27, 2022. Chile 1 (Brereton 21’) Argentina 2 (Di Maria 10’, La. Martinez 34’): Lionel Messi and Lionel Scaloni were missing after Covid infections but it did not stop Argentina winning again to make it 28 games without defeat. "We knew it was going to be difficult at high altitude and after a long flight," said Angel Di Maria. "Everything is always much easier when Leo is here. We were without the best in the world and our coach as well but we got the victory.” Reuters

February 1, 2022. Argentina 1 (La. Martinez) Colombia 0: The match brought together a home side that had not conceded a goal in their last four home matches and a Colombian team that had not scored in their last six qualifiers. "No matter who plays nothing changes," said winger Angel Di Maria. "We remain the same, with the same mentality. We show sacrifice and humility.” Reuters

March 25, 2022. Argentina 3 (Gonzalez 34’, Di Maria 79’, Messi 82’) Venezuela 0: The home side were without four players suspended for breaching Covid-19 quarantine rules ahead of September's suspended game against Brazil but still ran out comfortable winners. “We are very happy,” said midfielder Rodrigo De Paul. “We love playing in this shirt. The best thing about this group is that it treats every game as a final. This is what it's all about. Never letting up.” Reuters

March 29, 2022. Ecuador 1 (Valencia 90+3’) Argentina 1 (Alvarez 24’): Argentina finish the campaign unbeaten, although were denied all three points by Enner Valencia’s injury-time leveller. Lionel Scaloni said: "Today's game was played on a field that was not in good condition – it was almost impossible to play on the ground – even so, we had a good first half, but in the second they came at us." AP

“We're going to try to give our best and try to get as far as we can.”

Scaloni – who, at 44, is the youngest manager at the Qatar tournament – lamented the loss of injured star Giovani Lo Celso but said he was confident Roma forward Paulo Dybala would be fit following a hamstring injury.

Argentina have been drawn in Group C alongside Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Poland. They open their campaign on November 22 against the Gulf side.

“We know Saudi Arabia well,” Scaloni said. “We watched them a few days ago against Panama. It's a very good team, a technically strong team with fast players, similar to the UAE.

“They will make things difficult for us. On top of that it is our first game of the World Cup, which is always difficult. But this is the World Cup, and every game is difficult.”