De La Fuente Versus Scaloni: A Tale of Two Unheralded Managers

The media and pundits may well bill the 2026 World Cup final as a clash between Lionel Messi and the Spain collective. However, that would be wrong in our opinion.

First, Argentina are so much more than just Messi. They have other world-class players, such as Enzo Fernández, Julián Álvarez and Emi Martínez, to name just three. Second, Argentina are an amazing team. Spain are a fantastically well-drilled football machine that functions together perfectly. Argentina differ from Spain in that they are a collective in the sense of unity and fighting (sometimes literally) spirit. Last, Spain have plenty of their own individual stars too. Marc Cucurella, Lamine Yamal and Rodri are just three of the players Argentina will be seriously concerned about.

Some will view this game through a different lens altogether. They will contrast Spain, as exponents of the beautiful game, versus Argentina, who don’t mind, and perhaps even like, to win ugly.

Managers Matter

In this article, we want to focus on the managers rather than the players. Ultimately, the men in the dugout are the ones who shape tactics, culture, style and team spirit. Moreover, in Spain’s Luis de la Fuente and Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni, we have two men who were not obvious picks when they were appointed. Indeed, both were criticised as being too inexperienced.

A certain Diego Maradona said of the Argentina boss, “How can we give the national team to Scaloni?” The football icon said the new coach was “a great boy” but “can’t even manage traffic”. Scaloni, who turned 48 shortly before the World Cup, was just 40 when he was appointed. Additionally, he had virtually no experience as a manager.

De La Fuente had to defend himself at his presentation as boss back in December 2022. Critics pointed out that he had never managed in La Liga or played for the senior Spanish national team. He was an unknown quantity to some fans and not the sort of high-profile appointment many crave.

If we fast-forward to 2026, we find both being lauded as brilliant leaders. They will face off in the World Cup final with no question marks against them. Both have been brilliant for their countries, and both have delivered silverware already.

Stunning Success for Scaloni

Scaloni played seven times for his country – and 13 times on loan for West Ham! His playing career was modest compared to that of many former Argentina managers. However, he did win the U20 World Youth Championship with Argentina in 1997. Additionally, he won La Liga and then the Spanish Cup with Deportivo La Coruña.

His coaching career began as assistant to Jorge Sampaoli at Sevilla. He then worked in the same role when Sampaoli was appointed manager of Argentina in 2017. La Selección were eliminated in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup. Sampaoli left, and after an initial spell as co-caretaker boss, the Argentine Football Association made Scaloni the permanent manager of Argentina in November 2018.

Scaloni’s Slow Start

Scaloni didn’t exactly burst out of the blocks, and after Argentina finished third at the 2019 Copa America, playing stodgy football, fans called for Scaloni’s head. The powers that be went the other way, though. They extended the manager’s contract until 2022. It is safe to say it is a move that has paid off.

Argentina beat hosts Brazil 1-0 in the Copa America final in 2021. Scaloni’s side then beat Italy 3-0 in the Finalissima in June 2022. They headed into the 2022 World Cup on a run of 36 games unbeaten. Saudi Arabia stunned them in their opening game, winning 2-1. Argentina bounced back, though, and eventually went on to beat France on penalties in a thrilling final.

In 2022, judges named him the Best FIFA Men’s Coach. In 2023, he went on to even greater things. Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 at the Maracana in a World Cup qualifier. It was the first time Brazil had ever lost at home in World Cup qualifying. In 2024, Argentina then defended their Copa America crown. And now they are back in the final, bidding to become just the third nation ever to claim back-to-back World Cups. Not bad for someone who can’t manage traffic.

De La Fuente a Force

De La Fuente was born in 1961, so he is much older than Scaloni. As he pointed out at the aforementioned presentation, he possessed plenty of experience when he got the Spain job. Back in December 2022, he explained that he had been a “professional player for 15 years” and had “won titles”, as well as being “an international (at youth level)”.

He also pointed to his experience coaching Spain’s youth team. The former Athletic Bilbao left-back said, “I have (coached) 16 players who were in the Spain squad at the World Cup,” and went on to explain that “If there is anyone in Spain who knows the present and the future of Spanish football, it’s me.”

He had experience, but it was not the sort of experience Spanish fans wanted. They wanted a big name, and De La Fuente’s quiet, unassuming nature did not fill them with hope. As with Scaloni, the Spaniard has proved his doubters wrong and then some.

He had guided Spain’s U19 team to Euros glory in 2015. He then led the under-21s to success in 2019. And he was in charge when Spain took silver at the 2020 Olympics, too. In some ways, therefore, it is surprising that fans questioned his appointment so roundly.

What should have been less surprising, however, was that he has guided the senior team to glory as well. Rodri, Mikel Merino, Unai Simón, Fabián Ruiz, Dani Olmo, Mikel Oyarzabal, Cucurella, Martín Zubimendi, Eric García and Pedri are in his 2026 World Cup squad. All 10 of them featured in one or more of De La Fuente’s age-group teams.

Good People Make Good Teams

Spain’s boss is a man who has spoken repeatedly about the need for “good people”. Guillem Balagué noted that “There are coaches who build teams through tactics, and there are coaches who build teams through people. De la Fuente somehow manages to do both.” Forging this Spain team has been about staying true to their national identity but also creating a brilliant, hardworking collective.

He has remained loyal to many of his past players, in part because he knows their character. That is why his squad features so many players from supposedly smaller clubs, with none from Real Madrid. Ahead of the game with Belgium, he said that people who have been “in a locker room know what it means to be a good person”. He then added that “Almost every squad has had the opposite, the player who disrupts harmony, who puts himself first.”

Against France, Spain showed their hunger and desire to work for each other. They defended brilliantly when they needed to. And when they had the ball, they knew their identity and roles. De La Fuente led Spain to Nations League glory in 2022/23. He then helped them land the 2024 Euros and took them back to the final of the Nations League in 2024/25.

Spain are now in a World Cup final and the bookies make them firm favourites to win. The oddsmakers price Spain at 7/10 and Argentina at 7/5. Argentina will fight and try to disrupt Spain, but we believe De La Fuente’s men are an unstoppable footballing force.