Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni defended his players from accusations of misconduct in their fractious World Cup quarter-final against the Netherlands, insisting yesterday that the game was played in the “right way”.
The South American team have recovered from a shock defeat at the hands of Saudi Arabia in their opening group game in Qatar to reach the last four. But the two-time champions were heavily criticised following their bad-tempered last-eight clash with the Netherlands last week.
Scaloni’s side threw away a two-goal lead against the Dutch at Lusail Stadium but eventually triumphed 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out. However, the game featured a World Cup record 18 yellow cards and multiple mass confrontations, and FIFA has since opened disciplinary proceedings against both sides.
Argentina will be without Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna due to suspension against 2018 finalists Croatia as a result, but Scaloni, speaking on the eve of the semi-final, stood up for his men.
“The game the other day was played in the right way by both teams. That is football,” said the 44-year-old, who led Argentina to victory at last year’s Copa America.
“There are times when you have to attack and times when you have to defend, times too when there might be arguments.
“We all know how to win and how to lose. When we lost to Saudi Arabia we left without saying anything, and when we won the Copa America in Brazil I think we saw one of the most beautiful images of good sportsmanship in football with Neymar and Messi and (Leandro) Paredes together on the steps at the Maracana.
“I don’t buy this idea that we don’t know how to win. The game was played in the right way.”
Scaloni was non-committal over the future of Lionel Messi but said he would “enjoy having him” while he was still playing.
Messi, 35, admitted before the tournament that this would probably his last World Cup.
Scaloni, whose own short international career briefly crossed paths with that of Messi’s, has expressed hope that the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will continue to play international football.
“Let’s see if he keeps playing or not but for the moment we are just going to enjoy having him,” he said. “It’s the best thing that could happen to us and to the football world.”
Scaloni, who was an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli at the 2018 World Cup, when Argentina lost 3-0 to Croatia in the group stage, also suggested that both Rodrigo De Paul and Angel Di Maria should be fit for today’s game after injury problems. “In theory they are available and so we are relaxed about that,” he said. “We need to see how many minutes they can play, but we will see later today and we also have time tomorrow to decide.”
Croatia came from behind to beat England 2-1 after extra time in the 2018 semi-finals in Moscow. Croatia’s Ivan Perisic scored the equaliser before Mario Mandzukic’s memorable winning goal.
Mandzukic retired from international duty after the final, but Perisic remains an important player and one of four survivors from the team that started the defeat by France. “It’s an incredible feeling to be here in the semi-finals of the World Cup. Just like any athlete we want to get to the final and will do everything possible,” said the 33-year-old Perisic.
“Argentina are a great team and will leave it all out there. It’s hard to compare this game with the semi-final against England. It will be similar because England also had a fantastic squad.”
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has no doubts where the game will rank if Croatia can get the better of Messi and Argentina, who are bidding for a third World Cup title after winning in 1978 and 1986.
“For me, the semi-final against England was the greatest match of all time and the match against Brazil comes in second on that list,” said Dalic. “Tomorrow’s match would be third. If we manage to win it would make it the greatest game for Croatia of all time.”