The change was undeniable. The looks they got were different, and the feeling in the squad was different too. These days, Argentina’s futsal team commands real respect. Their rivals know it, their fans know it, and the players know it.

At Colombia 2016, Argentina won their first FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in what was a transformative achievement with knock-on effects. Four years later in Lithuania, La Albiceleste proved it was no fluke by taking runners-up spot in a tight final with Portugal.

“From the moment Argentina won that World Cup, the bar was raised,” Lucas Tripodi, a key member of Matias Lucuix’s squad, told FIFA. “So every time a young guy comes into the squad now, it’s made very clear from those at the top that they’re expected to contest finals.”

The 29-year-old plays for Ribera Navarra FS in Spain, and is symbolic of a group of players who have been in Europe for some time and now have to show they are capable of meeting the country’s lofty ambitions at a time when the golden generation are calling time on, or winding down, their careers.

“Ever since we became world champions, we’ve been obliged to reach the final of every tournament,” said Tripodi, who cut his teeth with Pinocho – one of Argentina’s oldest futsal clubs – before enjoying spells in Europe with Inter FS, Palma Futsal and Levante UD FS. “However, this is a team that exudes a winning mentality, so we look at that as positive pressure. That becomes obvious any time we lose, but the goal we set ourselves is to reach finals, prepare well for tournaments and try to win them.”