[ad_1]
Lionel Scaloni may have guided Lionel Messi and Argentina to the World Cup final, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing during his playing days.
The 44-year-old helped his country to a 3-0 win over Croatia in the semi-finals on Tuesday night.
Getty
Scaloni was loaned to West Ham from Deportivo in 2006
YouTube / The Emirates FA Cup
He played in the 2006 FA Cup Final where he had the chance to kick the ball in as the minutes ticked away with the Hammers leading.
YouTube / The Emirates FA Cup
However, his clearance was poor and did not cross the halfway line.
YouTube / The Emirates FA Cup
Instead it went to Gerrard, who launched a final attack with Liverpool trailing 3-2
YouTube / The Emirates FA Cup
Moving the ball towards Riise, the left-back crossed the ball into the West Ham box as the defenders tried to clear
Getty
But the header ball landed perfectly for Gerrard, who fired in a long-range equalizer
Getty
Liverpool ended up winning the final on penalties
But Hammers will have an unfortunate memory of him in burgundy and blue during his short loan spell from Deportivo in 2006.
A savvy, yet clever and cunning right-back, he apparently adapted to the Premier League under Alan Pardew.
However, the 2006 FA Cup final, the last to be played at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, was certainly a day to forget for the current Argentina boss.
The showpiece event might never have been remembered as “Gerrard’s final” if Scaloni had gotten more distance on a clearance.
Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton, who played that day, recalls when the current Argentina boss cost him the opportunity to get his hands on the FA Cup.
“West Ham fans will never forget him, and neither will I,” Ashton told White and Jordan on talkSPORT as the conversation turned to the manager who had just secured his country a place in the final of world Cup.
Getty
Scaloni turned the tide for Argentina, after losing to Saudi Arabia to reach the World Cup final
“Well I mean he came on loan, he did six months, he was a great character, he did well for us, the FA Cup final, all he has to do is to bring it back to [Reds goalkeeper Pepe] Reina or put it in the stands.
Ashton was referring to an incident in the dying moments of the match when he received the ball from Liverpool after a throw-in after switching it off so Djibril Cisse could receive treatment for an injury.
“He clings to his permission, goes back to our box, and [Steven] Gerard scores.
But Ashton, who made 46 appearances for West Ham, scoring 15 goals, also praised Scaloni for the job he has done with Argentina.
“What a rise he’s had,” he added.
“I’m amazed at how successful he has been with Argentina.
“I think France are the strongest team, though.”
Argentina will face winners France and Morocco in the World Cup final on Sunday.
” ” 🎙️
When the ball fell on Steven Gerrard #OnThisDay in 2006 he hit him with all he had left in his legs… 😍 pic.twitter.com/6LqpcoWlh0
—Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 13, 2021
World Cup Fan Zone
The 2022 World Cup has been exciting so far and it’s not too late to catch the action LIVE in the talkSPORT fan zone.
It’s time for the semi-finals with Argentina against Croatia and France against Morocco in the last four matches in Qatar.
Both games will be shown live on the big screen in the Fan Zone, London’s top World Cup party.
As well as all the action, you can enjoy food, music and drink with some of our favorite talkSPORT faces.
Pack your ticket to the talkSPORT Fan Zone HERE.
[ad_2]
