Scaloni's Unexpected Savior and Argentina's Talisman

Nicolás Iván González (born in Belén de Escobar in 1998) has emerged as a true lifeline for Lionel Scaloni. The former Atlético Madrid player is a talisman for the team. Every time he enters the game, Argentina improves its result, whether it's a comeback, a victory, or extending their lead.

The Argentinos Juniors academy product replaced Thiago Almada in the 55th minute with the score at 1-0 against Algeria (a 3-0 win); he came on for Lautaro Martínez in the 65th minute at 1-0 in the match against Austria (a 2-0 win); he substituted Almada in the 64th minute at 1-1 in the round of 16 clash against Cape Verde (a 3-2 win); he appeared in the 66th minute when trailing 0-1, replacing Nicolás Tagliafico, in the 3-2 comeback against Egypt; and he came on for Tagliafico in the 78th minute at 1-1 in the 3-1 extra-time quarter-final victory against Switzerland.

To reduce his contribution to merely being a lucky charm would be too simplistic. Nico González brings intensity, drive, width, and aerial presence, even having to play as a left-back. Against Switzerland, for instance, he delivered a superb cross, saving the ball right on the byline, which Alexis Mac Allister missed from a clear position in the 89th minute. In the 116th minute, with the score at 2-1, he cleared a dangerous cross from Miro Muheim and initiated the counter-attack that led to the final 3-1 scoreline.

His statistics, beyond the assist against Algeria, underscore his importance. Despite being only Argentina's 15th player in terms of minutes played (182), he is second in the team for chances created (5) and aerial duels won (9 out of 13). Furthermore, he is third in crosses (6), fifth in successful dribbles (3 out of 9) and clearances (8), sixth in shots taken (6), and seventh in duels won (17 out of 30). He also adds 11 tackles.

However, his performance in the comeback against Egypt earned him special praise from Scaloni. “If you don't have Lautaro Martínez on the bench, if you don't have 'Horse' González, who runs like an animal and gets to every ball... You can be a magician, but it's important to have players, that's the reality,” the coach noted.

“He killed me. If you listen to my teammates, they call me 'Caballito' or 'Caballo' (Little Horse or Horse). I like it when they call me 'Caballito,' it sounds sweeter to me,” joked the former Atlético player, who fueled the comparison with his run (off the ball) for Enzo Fernández's decisive 3-2 goal. “I arrived like a horse. I swear, I sprinted thinking: 'Even if I get injured, I don't care, I have to go, this is my chance to score.' And that's what happened. The cross was for me, but the Fat One (Enzo Fernández) was there. We'll give 30% of the goal to Lautaro for the cross, 30% to me for the sprint, and 40% to Enzo for the finish.”

Against Egypt, he went from frustration to ecstasy. “In the 75th minute, at 0-2, I was telling myself: 'I have to go home with my suitcases. Where the hell am I going?' It was madness, a feeling that we had to go for it, to keep pushing, no matter what. Scaloni already said it: 'Get up' (Montiel) was playing as a number nine, and so was I, and we are both full-backs, without being in a five-man defense. I've never experienced anything like it, and I don't think I will again. At that moment, I felt like we had won the World Cup,” Nico González insisted.

He hasn't won it yet, but he continues to fight for it. Mostly because of Messi. “Leo gives us that extra motivation to say: 'I'll give my life for you, brother.' Because of the things you create, because of that ambition you have, and in the end, we carry that onto the field,” Nico admits. England would do well to be on alert when they see him appear on the pitch.