Argentina, Scaloni: “You give us an image that annoys us. Messi like Maradona? It’s always been like this” – Football

DOHA- He got where he was supposed to get, Lionel Scaloni: any result other than the semi-final, no one says it openly but that’s the way it is, it would have been considered a failure and the critics would have blamed it on him, the young manager on his honeymoon with theAlbicelestial, but it is known that honey, at the World Cup, quickly turns into gall. Now that he’s got rid of the biggest weight, he can take the most important game of his career for what it is above all: a great opportunity. “Our hope is the same as that of the Argentine people: to win. We will not change the way we play. A difficult match awaits us against a team in the literal sense: the Croatia it’s a real group and as a group it moves on the pitch”.

Whether it’s the challenge between Messi and Modric it is quite implicit in the premises: there are two Golden Balls, which stand out from the rest of the company: “Messi is obviously a natural leader and Modric as well, for those who love football it is a pleasure to face him”.

Scaloni: “Given us an image that annoys us”

However, the Fifa investigation into the facts of the match against the Netherlands has displeased the whole team environment: “In football there are moments like this, there is a referee who must administer justice. We deeply respect the Netherlands , like Croatia and like every opponent. The image that has been given of us does not correspond to reality and annoys us. Our image is that of the Copa America final at the Maracana, with Messi and Neymar leaving the field embracing. Leo Maradona? Only those who don’t really know him can be surprised, he’s always been like this”.

Di Maria and De Paul recovered

Di Maria and De Paul they are both capable of taking the field: “Apart from the suspended Acuña and Montiel, everyone is available. But don’t get stuck on talks related to three or four-man defence, because in any case we have our way of playing and we won’t change it. The psychological part is certainly important, but we will have the same attitude that we have had in the last matches of this World Cup. The essential thing is not to waste even an ounce of energy in matters that do not concern the pitch.”

Gratified by the dean of coaches, Bora Milutinovic, with the best compliment (“Argentina’s secret is its coaching staff”), Scaloni thanks, but points out: “Bora is a sentence, but I believe that our secret must simply be one : think and live as a team”.

Tagliafico and the dangers of Croatia

Lyon full-back Tagliafico he will play in place of the suspended Acuña and explains the team’s feeling: “It’s impossible for us to be satisfied.” The video study of Croatia was extremely accurate: “There are two main dangers: their midfield and aerial balls, with all the tall players they have. But we have a precise tactical plan.” The memory of 2018 in Russia, the 0-3 in the group stage, is no longer so stinging: “He must push us to be very careful, but many players have changed since then, we certainly aren’t afraid.” Of the clashes not only verbal with the Dutch Tagliafico says that it is no longer the case to talk: “We are not machines, we are made of emotions. These things can happen in a quarter-final of a World Cup, I don’t think it will be the last time The moment will come when we and the Dutch will talk and everyone will be able to tell their anecdotes. But now is not that moment yet. Messi? He is our leader and we are happy that he is, he guides us on and off the pitch.” .