Watch: Lionel Scaloni exits emotional press conference in tears after Argentina World Cup defeat to Spain - 'It hurts my soul'

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Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni broke down in tears and walked out of his press conference after defeat to Spain in an ill-tempered World Cup final which was won by Ferran Torres' goal in extra time.

Watch: 'It hurts my soul' - Scaloni exits emotional press conference in tears

Video credit: SNTV

La Albiceleste saw Enzo Fernandez sent off for a second yellow card at the end of the second half and attempted to hold out for a penalty shoot-out.

But substitute Torres fired home in the 106th minute to give Spain a deserved victory.

Scaloni was hoping to become just the second manager in history to retain the World Cup, after Italy's Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s.

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But he may have to be content with his 2022 triumph, with his Argentina contract set to expire in December.

Asked about his future, an emotional Scaloni said: "I will talk to the president. I have an idea of what I would like to do. I will see out my contract, and I feel the need to think. I don't know if something as big can be done [again]. 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 the moment. It was a dream place for everyone.

"We have tried up until the very last minute to give our utmost, the staff and players. I believe it's only fair that I can take this time for myself to think this through."

He added: "This place is wonderful, it is a dream place. We would never have imagined, including my staff, that we would be in this place.

"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 to create again."

Fighting through tears and leaving the room to applause, Scaloni said: "It's really painful, I am very sorry."

Scaloni's success with Argentina - a World Cup title and two Copa America crowns - has been helped by Lionel Messi's brilliance.

It remains to be seen if the 39-year-old will continue his international career beyond the World Cup.

'We had a date with destiny' - De la Fuente

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente was full of praise for his players.

"It was written, and we deserve it," said the 65-year-old, whose side are now both European and world champions.

"This team and this wonderful fanbase deserve everything. We had a date with destiny and we wanted to make it count.

"The players have asked me what we have left to win. Together we’ve figured out that it’s the next match in September [against England in the Nations League] because this team is tireless."

Spain conceded just one goal in eight matches at the World Cup, winning seven in a row after their surprise goalless draw with Cabo Verde in their Group H opener.

They beat Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France en route to the final, where they won the World Cup for a second time following their 2010 triumph.

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