World Cup: Argentina have worked out where to hurt Croatia, says coach Scaloni
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Lionel Scaloni strikes a confident pose during a press conference ahead of Tuesday's World Cup semi-final against Croatia.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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AL RAYYAN, Qatar – Argentina will trust their system when they face Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals and believe they have worked out how to hurt the 2018 runners-up, coach Lionel Scaloni said on Monday.
Croatia were not the favourites to reach the last four again but they came through two penalty shoot-outs
“They have troubled many national teams. I won’t mention the key players or their strengths and weaknesses but we’ve analysed where we can hurt them. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t,” Scaloni told reporters on the eve of the first semi-final.
“We try to give it all on the pitch. Sometimes luck can be on your side. If we have a good performance, we’ll have an easier road to reach our objective.
“But this is football, this is sport, so sometimes the best team may not win.”
When pressed on Croatia’s veteran midfielder Luka Modric, who is still going strong at the age of 37, Scaloni said it was a pleasure to watch him play.
“He’s a role model for so many of us – not just because of his talent but also his behaviour,” Scaloni said.
“All I can say is, we should enjoy him. If you love football, then you should enjoy players like him.”
Modric, meanwhile, told Spanish TV programme El Chiringuito that he was looking forward to taking on Messi and Co: “I want to play another semi-final against a big team. That’s what I want, not just against a player.
“Of course, Lionel Messi is very big, he’s their best player, and we’re going to have a lot of difficulty in trying to stop him, but we are prepared.”
Scaloni said both Angel di Maria and Rodrigo de Paul would be fit and missing the suspended Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel would not be a problem.
“We have our own system, our style. Of course, in certain situations, we need to take into account how the opponents are playing,” he said.
“We won’t change our style beyond the system. During the game, we will make decisions (based on situations) and rise up to the challenge.”
Scaloni was also asked about the criticism directed at Argentina after their players’ “unsporting behaviour”
“The previous game was played the way we had to play... that’s football. Sometimes things like arguments can happen, but that’s all. That’s why there’s a referee,” he said.
“We need to put an end to this idea that Argentina behave like this. We lost to Saudi Arabia and didn’t say anything.
“We won the Copa America in Brazil and experienced the most sporting behaviour from (Lionel) Messi, (Leandro) Paredes, Neymar – who were all sitting together in the tunnel in the Maracana. I’m really not convinced of this idea of unsporting behaviour.”
Messi was also singled out in some quarters for his post-match behaviour but defender Nicolas Tagliafico praised his captain’s influence on the team.
“He’s always been like this, he’s our captain and leader, pushing and motivating us. We have a special advantage when he’s on the pitch, he’s a great source of motivation,” Tagliafico said.
“With everyone’s support, we try to work in the same direction and achieve our dream. That’s the most beautiful thing to do with Messi by our side.”
Indeed, Germany’s former World Cup-winning full-back Philipp Lahm, warned that Messi and La Albiceleste are unusually in sync.
He told The Guardian: “Scaloni has thought about how to integrate the outstanding class of the 35-year-old Lionel Messi.
“In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung, he told how he deliberately did without Messi at the beginning of his time in charge so the team could find their way without the star. Then he integrated him.
“Argentina and Messi have found an unusual and exciting division of labour. In 2014, when they lost to us in the Maracana final, his teammates seemed to be waiting for him to solve everything on his own. In 2022, they are playing for him and he is biding his time.
“Scaloni has everything under control. Argentina perform harmoniously like a club team in Champions League form. Their plan: to constantly win the ball and defend forward. It’s a defensive idea, but designed to be proactive.”
REUTERS, AFP
