New Jersey, July 20 -- Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni said the FIFA World Cup 2026 final defeat to Spain "hurts in the soul", while praising his players for battling through injuries and giving everything during the tournament.

Speaking at the post-match press conference after Argentina's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain at MetLife Stadium, Scaloni said injuries to key players made the challenge even tougher for the defending champions.

"We had injuries in key positions that we weren't expecting. The wear and tear has been enormous, they gave their last effort. I'm in a dream place for everyone, I always thank the President (Tapia) for the opportunity. This place is wonderful. It's hard to form a group like this. Losing hurts me in the...