Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Monday prior to the World Cup qualifier against Brazil.
Lionel Scaloni commented about the match while also addressing the comments made by Brazilian players. Here is what he had to say:
“It’s an Argentina-Brazil match and it’s never not important, but it’s a soccer match. The image of Leo (Messi) sitting with Neymar at the Maracana is the image we have to have.
“Let the people go to cheer for the Argentine national team and those of Brazil, for their national team. That’s all there is to it.
“We will try to play our game, on the opposite field if possible.
“I imagine it will be a similar match to the Uruguay game, but hopefully it will be more like the second half than the first.
“These are tough, difficult matches, they have always been played in the same way. Brazil has great players, they are an attacking and difficult team, you have to know how to counteract them.”
Scaloni also spoke about the starting eleven:
“I am not going to confirm the team yet. It will be very similar to the one from the other day with the addition of Rodrigo (De Paul) and we will see if there are any other changes”.
“Tomorrow is a nice test to prove that the team is still valid.
“Having a base is always a peace of mind and allows you to make adjustments that are less noticeable, so that the guys who come in can contribute their grain of sand.
“When you have to suffer, you suffer, and the team does it. They don’t just play beautifully, there are moments when they have to be superior to their opponents and others when they have to be strong and defend.
“With the players we have at our disposal today, our goal will be to win possession of the ball”.
It would be naturally a difficult game. Scaloni would have a difficult choice to make between Paredes and Simeone. Paredes was key to absorbing the pressure in the first half of the game against Uruguay.
There is a part of me that want to see the Simeone-Vini battle again.