‘I just wanted the match to be over,’ says Lionel Scaloni after Cape Verde give Argentina huge scare

MIAMI – Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said the breathless 3-2 extra-time win over Cape Verde in the World Cup last 32 was a reminder that no knockout match is easy, after the holders were twice pegged back by the tiny African nation before scraping through.

“That was for those who said we had an easy run in the draw,” he told reporters after the July 3 match. “Sure, we deserved to win and go through, but it was an extremely difficult match.”

Argentina arrived as heavy favourites but were forced into a draining battle as Cape Verde, huge underdogs on paper, levelled twice and pushed the champions deep into extra time.

“They finished the match absolutely knackered,” Scaloni added of his players.

“There are areas for improvement, but they’ve shown resilience. The players are tired because of extra time – too many minutes – and some cramps. But when they play with their hearts, they can overcome anything.

“The team showed their character and their worth today.”

Lionel Messi had fired Argentina into the lead with a superb goal on 29 minutes, his seventh of this World Cup, but Deroy Duarte’s 59th-minute equaliser left the team stunned.

Lisandro Martinez restored Argentina’s lead at the start of extra time in the 92nd minute, but once again Cape Verde hit back, Sidny Lopes Cabral curling in a magnificent leveller on 103 minutes.

Argentina then grabbed the winner in the 111th minute via a Diney Borges own goal.

Scaloni acknowledged that the contest was far less comfortable than many had predicted, especially after Cape Verde’s second equaliser raised the prospect of a major upset.

“I just wanted the match to be over,” he said. “You saw the stunning goal they scored. I’m always wary. I was calmer than I looked. Everyone thought it would be a walk in the park, but we knew it wouldn’t be.”

Asked whether the responsibility of being favourites weighed on Argentina, Scaloni rejected the suggestion.

“No. The best thing about this team is that it just keeps going, keeps going, keeps going. The boys keep attacking with their heart on their boots,” he said.

“I think we rose to the occasion.”

For Scaloni, the match was also a neat summary of Argentina’s footballing condition.

“What does it mean to be Argentinian? To suffer,” he said.

“Cape Verde gave 200 per cent, and in football that levels things out. The fans are the first to understand that this is Argentina and nothing for us is easy.

“There is something special to this jersey. We will keep going forward and there is no way we haven’t come out of this stronger and we will be moving forward.”

Cape Verde coach Bubista, meanwhile, felt huge pride in his team after they took the three-time world champions to the wire before losing.

Ranked 67th when the tournament began, they have risen provisionally to world No. 64 and have been the surprise package of their first global Finals, drawing with former champions Spain and Uruguay, as well as Saudi Arabia, in the group phase.

Former centre-half Bubista was the architect of the project and he thought the reaction to the loss by his players, most of whom do not play in elite leagues, showed how far they had come.

“The feeling in the dressing room is one of sadness,” he said. “We’re sad, of course, we’re sad because we’re leaving the competition and because we got so close, so close.

“Even though they are sad, the players were hugging each other, they were crying. This helps us grow, and also shows that the team has a soul.”

Bubista also said that Cape Verde staying in the match for the full 120 minutes against a great team was a huge source of pride.

“They did it with dignity and courage,” he added.

“I don’t think any other team could have scored two goals against Argentina and taken the match into extra time. I think that shows the character of our team.” REUTERS, AFP