‘Afraid of nothing’: how Argentina’s players drew on childhood inspiration to reach the final

Lionel Scaloni says he has a squad full of fighters – wild and unruly – but on the pitch they play with a freedom reminiscent of eight- or nine-year olds After scoring the goal that secured Argentina’s place in the World Cup final , Lautaro Martínez burst into convulsive sobs during the touchline interview. He spoke of the first pair of trainers his father bought him and of how his mother kept making his bed when he moved to a club pension house in another city as a teenager. Every single day. Martínez said that mattered to him more than any goal, any cup. Argentina’s head coach, Lionel Scalon

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