Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni believes this World Cup has been a great leveller, with traditional powerhouses struggling to assert their dominance ahead of his side’s last 16 tie with Egypt on Tuesday.
Defending champions Argentina go into the match on the back of a major scare against Cape Verde. Scaloni’s side won all three group games and were rarely tested, but Cape Verde took them to extra time before Argentina eventually won 3-2, a result greeted with relief more than celebration.
France, runners-up four years ago, needed a penalty to overcome Paraguay in the round of 16, Spain got past Portugal thanks to an added time goal, while Brazil and Germany are already out.
“I think this World Cup is very tricky for everyone, it seems there is no clear favourite,” Scaloni told a packed press conference on Monday. “There are no national teams that, as we used to see before the World Cup, were clear favourites. The conditions are also very different from what we had seen in prior editions.
“I understand that most players have played a great deal of matches, and that is a lot of games on the legs. That is why maybe the level is not the one we are used to seeing. Beyond the fact that there are four or five main favourites, those teams are not showcasing the football that we would expect before the World Cup.”
Despite the drop in standards across the tournament, Scaloni said he was satisfied with his team’s performances so far. “Argentina’s level is acceptable. We won the four matches, and I think that is a reason to be satisfied. There are always things that we can fine tune, even when you win.
“This World Cup is difficult. The travel, the heat, the pitches, the grass, sometimes the ball doesn’t move well. There are a lot of factors that make it hard to really show your superiority.”
Scaloni believes his side will continue to find a way even when not playing well. “When things don’t go your way, you can resort to grit, to intensity, to the spirit that we have in our DNA. Then you can play better or worse, but when you can’t play well, you need all of that. Otherwise, you’re out. I am convinced that if we didn’t resort to our character in the last match, we would be out.”
