Lionel Scaloni spoke in a press conference following Argentina’s 1-1 draw with Colombia at El Monumental. He revealed that Lionel Messi asked to be subbed off, praised Thiago Almada’s performance, and reflected on the team’s attitude and tactical adjustments.
On Messi asking to be subbed off:
“Initially, Messi wasn’t going to come off, but when he saw we were making two substitutions, he told me it was better for him to come off too, so I took him out—otherwise, he wouldn’t have left.”
On Thiago Almada’s performance:
“He’s confident and willing to try things—that’s the best quality a footballer can have, not being afraid to ask for the ball. He’s been a great addition for us and gives us peace of mind. It reinforces the fact that we have many players who can contribute.”
On Argentina’s overall performance and tactical changes:
“In the first half, we couldn’t find our rhythm, but in the end, football is not just about playing well. In the second half, the team changed its dynamic and we created chances.”
“It was a good test to see how the team would react playing with three defenders.”
“We leave satisfied. Of course, there are always things to review, but I’m happy—especially with how we played in the second half.”
On the substitutions and tactical plan:
“The substitutions were tactical. With (Giuliano) Simeone and (Nicolás) González, we looked to create opportunities down the flanks.”
On the team’s mentality despite already being qualified:
“Even under the conditions we played today—already having qualified—the players were fully focused on this match, and that’s incredible. In the end, the fans really appreciated the effort. The connection with the public is fantastic.”
On Colombia’s strategy and Argentina’s resilience:
“They set up a very tight match, where the ball moved quickly, and if you weren’t precise, you could get caught on the counter.”
“The best thing about the team, beyond always trying to play, was how quickly we recovered possession and never gave up on a play. From that point of view, we’re satisfied—that’s very important in modern football.”
On the difficulty of the qualifiers:
“Today they realized that when we talk about the qualifiers being tough, it’s not just a cliché—it’s real.”
“Everyone gives a little extra when they play against us—that definitely happens. Every match is a battle. I don’t remember any easy qualifiers.”
On Colombian coach Néstor Lorenzo:
“I appreciate and care about Néstor (Lorenzo). He’s doing a great job. We shared many moments together in 2006.”
On the fans’ support:
“The fans gave us incredible support. It’s beautiful to see them singing like that. We always need their energy, and today, in a really tough moment of the match, we felt it. It motivates the players even more.”
Hi everyone, it has been a while since I posted here because I had issues with my account. Like in the past decade, I still come here almost every day to check the news and read the comments. Many of the old guard (Waveride, Gonzalo, Kidulthood, Jack etc.) are not posting anymore. Maybe they had the same issue as me. Hope they return during the warm up games for the next WC.
The Argentina team has been impressive since winning the Finalissima against Italy and many good results have followed. Scaloni, Aimar, Ayala and Samuel are a fine combination. They follow tens of players in many leagues and are slowly bringing in new talent with the likes of Mastantuono and Lomonaco. Just like many others here. I wondered why Bernabei and Maffeo have not been tried yet. Over the past few years the game has changed and fast wingbacks are what makes football exciting. Hopefully they will be tested during the friendlies in the second half of the year.
A discussion I miss is the reason why highly praised talents in Argentina end up on the bench or even in the stands at European clubs. Players like Aaron Anselmino at Chelsea, Julio Soler at Bournemouth, Gianluca Prestianni at Benfica and even Echeverri at Man City hardly get any playing time. Barco switched teams several times before he got a starting place at Strasbourg. Boca CB Valentini moved to Italy and completely disappeared from the radar. We all know that the Argentine league is not up to par with La Liga or the Premier League but adapting apparently takes much more time than expected. I wonder if Mastantuono will feature often in Madrid’s first team in the new season. I surely hope so. We do need fresh new talent to boost our chances for a second consecutive WC. Our young players need to gain experience in top competitions to stand a chance against Spain or France.