Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni brushed aside Carlo Ancelotti’s remarks about his side’s style of play and insisted his focus remained on Austria and Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
Scaloni spoke before Argentina’s decisive Group J fixture against Austria, where both teams sit on three points. The defending champions still control their route through the group, with results elsewhere capable of sending them through as group winners.
Recent comments from Brazil coach Ancelotti had created discussion around Argentina’s style. The Italian questioned the side’s intensity but still placed Argentina among the World Cup contenders.
Scaloni refused to turn the discussion into a public dispute.
“I understood what he meant,” Scaloni said.
“He said it in a positive way. He certainly did not say anything bad. The problem is that when he speaks, he creates a mixture of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. If he had spoken in his mother tongue, maybe we would all have understood him better.”
“I see his comments as praise rather than criticism and I am completely convinced about that.”
Ancelotti had suggested that Argentina do not play football at a particularly high intensity, although he praised their control of matches and questioned whether one individual star would decide the tournament.
Scaloni showed little interest in extending that debate as Argentina prepare for a match that carries direct consequences in Group J.
Argentina can finish top if they beat Austria and Algeria avoid defeat against Jordan in the other group fixture.
Brazil also sit in a comfortable position after a 3-0 win against Haiti. They complete their Group C campaign against Scotland on June 25 and need only a draw to reach the knockout stage, although victory would strengthen their chances of finishing top.
