Scaloni: “It should have been a happy day and it was a sad day”

Lionel Scaloni surprised at the end of the press conference. After answering all the questions about the game, about the classification, about Messi, the DT took a minute to say that it had not been a fully fulfilling day for him.

“Big hug to all my town, which is a very sad day. There was a car accident in the town, which is very small. A boy died and another is serious. Let’s pray for him. A strong one to the family, to the people from Pujato. It should have been a happy day and it was sad,” said Scaloni.

This gesture by Scaloni exalts him, paints the essence of a guy who even in the distance remembers his roots.

The accident occurred this Friday at 6 in the morning on Route 33, on the route that connects Casilda and Pujato. The victims are between 25 and 30 years old and were driving a Peugeot 208 that was completely destroyed after hitting a tree.

-“This team has a spirit of knowing how to face situations at all times. They put on a very strange game, especially in the second half. We had it under control. This is what football has, such a beautiful sport, that when you believe “It’s all over, it’s not over. This team has what it takes, it’s young, it’s proud and it doesn’t leave anything for lost. In my opinion, we deserved to win earlier, we didn’t deserve to go to penalties. The team continued to show their faces”.

– “In the first half of extra time we had the possibility of putting Di María in, we knew it could be a weapon, we knew he was not in the best condition. We had to think about the penalty takers, not take out those who could kicking. We always think about winning. They set up a short game, they threw a ball, we looked at the rival goal. It was difficult for us in the second half. Even so, we were the one who shot the most, the one who arrived the most, we are satisfied”.

-“In the last 15 minutes they threw balls at the forwards, they didn’t have many other options. We knew that in extra time, with our football, everything was going to change. That’s how it was, we had scoring situations, they settled for 2nd 2. We had chances to win it in extra time, it was not like that, but the game was for us beyond the fatality of the last minute”.

-“How many tests of character did we give? We lost the first game. With Mexico we had a very difficult first half and the team showed its face. This team shows the facets that the game requires. Sometimes you have to defend, because of how they played, that it’s legal, that three six-foot-nine forwards put you in. The players had the spirit of knowing what we want at all times. This is what the team has, they know what they have to do at all times. The last ten minutes were the most difficult, I had the intention of making a change to win it more by far. But given the situation they were in, I preferred something else, it didn’t work out because they tied us. They didn’t deserve to tie. The most important thing is that the team knows what Must do”.

-“They played in a way that we did not expect. But it is legal, each coach defines. We already know what the Dutch football culture is. Van Gaal has results. I am not to judge. It is true that in the second half the game It was ugly to see, quite cut, but it is legal to play as he wants”.

-“The penalty kicks were similar against Colombia in the Copa América. We knew the kickers, we had one left over, with the desire they had to kick. I had plenty of players, that gives me confidence. It’s positive for the team that everyone wants to kick. We knew that Emiliano, like against Colombia, could save one. We tried to repeat that a bit, and give the players confidence, we had plenty of performers”.

-“We knew that Nahuel on the right could be unbalancing. Sometimes you play with a line of three, sometimes a line of five. I am not in favor of playing in one way or another to be more offensive. The opponent plays and we must be prepared, For example, the Netherlands took our time at times. The system was clear to us”.

-“Sabella would be proud of this group. It’s a goal in all seven games. Now, in the dance, you have to keep dancing. With respect to a great rival like Croatia, it’s going to be a nice game and we hope we live up to it” .

“In football, the merits… We wanted something more. It hurts that they tied us the way they tied us, but the team has a spirit of sacrifice, of struggle.”

“When the game ended, we had to focus on what was coming, there were 30 minutes left. We were the only one who proposed to win it. We transformed our disappointment into wanting to win it in those 30 minutes. Even so, the team was confident and there were plenty of kickers.”