EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — After watching his 10-man side come up just short of becoming the first back-to-back World Cup winners since 1958-62, a tearful Lionel Scaloni admitted he’s unsure what lies ahead.

The 48-year-old was appointed manager after Argentina crashed out of the 2018 World Cup in the round of 16 amid skepticism about his lack of head coaching experience and only brief time as an assistant.

If he does move on after his contract expires in December, he will leave the post as the most decorated manager in program history. Sunday’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final followed a run to the title in the 2022 tournament, and he also guided Argentina to the Copa America crown in 2021 and 2024.

“I will talk to the president” of the federation, Scaloni said through an interpreter. “I have an idea of what I would like to do. I will see out my contract, and I feel the need to think, as I don’t know if something as big can be done (again) and maybe we need to speak this through.

“I am thankful to the president for bringing me this chance of being in this place where I am at. At the moment, it was a dream place for everyone. And we’ve tried up until the very last minute to give our utmost, the staff, the players. And I believe it’s only fair that I can take this time for myself to think this through.”

Scaloni is only the second Argentine manager to reach consecutive World Cup finals and only the fifth of any nationality. Carlos Bilardo guided the Albiceleste to the 1986 title and the 1990 final, but did not match Scaloni’s Copa America feats.

Should Scaloni continue, it would likely be with a group that looks considerably different than the one he has managed for nearly a decade.

Lionel Messi is 39 years old, and while he still had an exceptional tournament with eight goals and four assists, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s participation in 2030 feels extremely unlikely.

In total, eight Argentina players started both the 2022 and 2026 finals, and it’s almost certain there will be considerable turnover beyond just their most famous star.

“I would have never imagined, we would have never imagined, including my staff, that we would be in this place,” Scaloni said through tears. “So in order to continue, you need a great deal of things, especially resetting your mind, rebooting. Creating a group like this again, that is very difficult, that you can create again. And it’s really painful. I am very sorry.”

At that point, Scaloni exited to his right to end his press conference to thunderous applause from assembled press.

Earlier in his remarks, Scaloni said he could have no complaints with the result of the final, which Spain dominated in possession and shots but won by the slim margin of Ferran Torres’ 106th-minute winner.

“We feel extremely grateful to all our fans, all those people who transmitted us that energy that we were lacking,” Scaloni said. “We managed to go all the way to the end when the match was so open, and it just couldn’t be in the end. They deserved the victory. That’s reality. We need to accept it. But we were close, to be honest. I would like to thank my players (and) everyone who’s helped us greatly to reach another World Cup final.”

A product of Newell’s Old Boys, the same team Messi played for in his childhood, Scaloni played for two decades across Argentina, Spain, Italy and briefly England.

But the right-sided midfielder and defender made only seven appearances for the senior national team. His best moment for the Albiceleste came when he started and played all of their 2-1 victory over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16 in 2006.

–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media

The Washington Nationals placed left-hander PJ Poulin on the 15-day injured list on Sunday because of a left flexor strain.

The move was retroactive to Thursday. In a corresponding move, the Nationals signed free agent lefty Matt Krook. Washington transferred lefty Richard Lovelady (left triceps strain) from the 15- to 60-day IL to make room for Krook on the 40-man roster.

Poulin, who turns 30 on July 25, last pitched on July 11, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts in 1 2/3 scoreless innings as the opener in a 4-2 home loss to the New York Yankees.

Poulin is 3-0 with three saves, a 2.70 ERA, 21 walks and 25 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings over 35 games (11 starts) this season. Since making his major league debut last season, Poulin is 5-1 with four saves, a 3.08 ERA, 34 walks and 52 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings over 63 games (11 starts).

The Nationals selected Krook, 31, off waivers from the Athletics on July 4 and designated him for assignment on July 12. He was granted free agency last Tuesday.

Krook was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA, two walks and two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings across three relief appearances for the Nationals. He was 0-0 with a 14.73 ERA in 3 2/3 innings for the Athletics earlier this season.

For his career, Krook is 0-1 with a 14.11 ERA, 14 walks and 15 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings over 16 games with four teams since 2023.

–Field Level Media

Two days after Arizona Cardinals director of college scouting Ryan Gold was suspended indefinitely by the NFL, his attorney responded, calling the allegations “blatantly false” and stating that they would be appealing the ruling.

On Friday, the league took the action after determining that Gold had disclosed confidential draft details and placed wagers involving football games. The NFL did not state to which parties that Gold had provided the information.

The league revealed that Gold disclosed inside information regarding Arizona’s 2026 draft picks prior to their announcement. Additionally, investigators discovered he took part in parlays involving NFL and college football games.

The suspension took effect immediately, but an appeal is permitted.

“Ryan Gold has been an outstanding NFL executive for over a decade,” attorney Mike Caspino said in a statement on Sunday. “The accusations made by the league regarding his participation in prohibited gambling activities are blatantly false. We have demanded an appeal and we look forward to clearing his good name.”

Caspino claimed that Gold’s wife, Jennifer, was making $10 weekly bets with a group of high school friends on parlays and that Gold played no role in that activity.

He added that Gold did not know whom the Cardinals were selecting because only team owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort knew and did not share that information.

NFL rules prohibit league and club employees from betting on sports, assisting others with wagers or providing information that is not available to the public.

“Although there is no reason to believe the integrity of any NFL game was affected,” the NFL said in Friday’s statement, “the league takes any violation of the gambling policy with the utmost seriousness.”

The league said its investigation included interviews and a review of electronic records. It found no evidence that any Cardinals player, coach or other employee knew about or participated in Gold’s actions. There was also no indication that a play or game had been compromised.

The Cardinals on Friday issued a statement saying they “fully support the league’s decision in this matter.” They removed Gold’s bio from the team’s official website.

Gold was entering his 13th year with the organization and his second as director of college scouting. He was promoted to the position in June 2025 after three seasons as Arizona’s assistant director of college scouting. He previously spent four years with the organization as a college scouting coordinator.

–Field Level Media