Scaloni: No Easy Games in World Cup
Argentina's defending champions needed extra time to beat Cape Verde 3-2 in the World Cup Round of 32, with manager Scaloni insisting there are no easy matches at the tournament. The team advances to face Egypt in the Round of 16 on July 7.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said the encounter with Cape Verde demonstrated there are no easy matches in World Cup football, while praising his opponents' performance.
The defending champions were pushed to extra time after a 1-1 draw before securing a 3-2 victory in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 on July 3.
Argentina advanced to the Round of 16 to face Egypt on July 7 at 11 p.m. Thailand time.
After the match, Scaloni, who reached his 100th game in charge, said: "For those who said we had an easy draw, of course we deserved to win and advance, but it was an extremely difficult game."
"I want to congratulate our opponents. Today they showed they are an excellent team. When people say there are no easy games in the World Cup, it's the truth."
"The players finished exhausted. There are areas to improve, but they showed their strength. They were tired from extra time and had some cramping, but when they play with heart, they can overcome everything."
"I will discuss the negatives with the players, but we remain focused on the positives. What stands out most is this team never gives up. We conceded at convenient moments, but throughout the game we were determined to win."
