Argentina's Nicolas Tagliafico says back-to-back World Cup titles would be a 'dream'

[p]The South American giants are among the favourites for this year's tournament in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a], Mexico and Canada, after winning the title in Qatar four years ago, inspired by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/messi-lionel/vgOOdZbd/"]Lionel Messi[/a].[/p][p]The 38-year-old Messi has said this will be his sixth and final World Cup but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] have been in strong form heading into the finals, finishing top of the South American qualifying standings.[/p][p]The last nation to win back-to-back World Cups was Pele's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brazil/I9l9aqLq/"]Brazil[/a] in 1958 and 1962, following in the footsteps of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/italy/hlKvieGH/"]Italy[/a] who won the second and third editions of the global showpiece in 1934 and 1938.[/p][p][b]"Only Brazil and Italy have won two consecutive World Cups, but that was a long time ago,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tagliafico-nicolas/jgaGiVOl/"]Tagliafico[/a] told AFP.[/p][p]"It's a dream, like our dream of winning one, but we have to focus on the day-to-day, one match at a time, without getting carried away, because in the end, it's the daily work that will pay off."[/p][embed guid="60775ca6-f562-4ca3-b446-ca43a654a0a4" url="https://x.com/AlbicelesteTalk/status/2037331783419650350" social-type="twitter" /][h2]'Enthusiasm'[/h2][p]Argentina still have largely the same squad which won the title in Qatar four years ago, although some younger players have recently broken into the side.[/p][p]Como rising star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paz-nicolas/Uy65JSj8/"]Nicolas Paz[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bournemouth/OtpNdwrc/"]Bournemouth[/a] defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/senesi-marcos/tzX63L7E/"]Marcos Senesi[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/strasbourg/nP6UzIU1/"]Strasbourg[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/barco-valentin/MXX0tUs3/"]Valentin Barco[/a] are among the new faces hoping to feature at the World Cup.[/p][p]Barco's club teammate [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/panichelli-joaquin/SSL080TM/"]Joaquin Panichelli[/a], the leading scorer in France's Ligue 1 this season, was also expected to play a part at the World Cup but that now looks doubtful after he suffered a knee injury in training Thursday.[/p][p]Media reports suggest he has torn his ACL and, with only three months to go before the start of the World Cup, is now likely to miss the tournament.[/p][p][b]"I think there's a mix of young players, perhaps less experienced, but with a lot of enthusiasm and a strong desire to wear the national jersey,"[/b] said Tagliafico.[/p][p]"I have a good feeling about this team, even if sometimes it seems like they're relaxing.[/p][p][b]"But in competitions like this, the team rediscovers its best form, it gets its motivation back."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/lyon/2akflumR/"]Lyon[/a]'s Tagliafico is also aware that this year's expanded 48-team tournament across an entire continent will be a different beast to the World Cup Argentina won in Qatar, where every match was played within or near Doha.[/p][p][b]"From travel to training and match venues, the truth is that nothing has been discussed regarding the overall organisation,"[/b] he added.[/p][p]"We know we'll be in Kansas City (base camp), but apart from that, we know nothing...[/p][p][b]"Furthermore, there's another crucial match, and we could have the misfortune, in the round of 32, for some unfortunate detail to eliminate us.[/b][/p][p]"It's a different World Cup, with many more teams, and I think it will be even more competitive."[/p][p]Argentina face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mauritius/tpBfGJ31/"]Mauritius[/a] in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/mauritania-Q5QPxhPn/?mid=xxwZiuZQ"]friendly on Friday[/a], before continuing their World Cup preparations against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/zambia/zBS458hb/"]Zambia[/a] on Tuesday.[/p][p]They were originally due to face European champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a] in the Finalissima in Doha, but that game was cancelled due to the United States' and Israel's war on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a].[/p][p]Their title defence starts on June 16 against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/algeria/nc87N1BR/"]Algeria[/a] in Kansas City before moving on to Arlington where they will face Austria and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/jordan/vNcmJoU2/"]Jordan[/a].[/p]