Lionel SCALONI’s Argentina U20 team are in the semi-finals of the COTIF tournament following a 2-0 win against MAURITANIA.

It took just two minutes for Argentina to find the back of the net following an Alvaro BARREAL volley. The assist coming from Adolfo GAICH (who scored both goals against Murcia). GAICH headed the ball forward into the area and BARREAL with a low volley’d shot put it past the goalkeeper. The first half ended 1-0 in favor of SCALONI’s boys.

Facundo COLIDIO took advantage of a massive defensive error by Mauritania as he chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and took a second shot to confirm the victory for his team.

Three wins out of three at COTIF and coach Lionel SCALONI is happy about it all. Following the victory, here’s what he had to say:

“Hopefully we can win the tournament. But if not, the important thing is that the kids leave with a feeling that they learned something important which is putting on this shirt and always giving it your all.

“Today, I was only thinking about the match against Mauritania. These kids deserve my utmost respect. If I start to think of what’s to come, it would be a lack of respect not only to them but to me as well.

“We have a footballing culture that very few countries have. If we can add proper behavior, humility and hard work, surely we will become what we once were at youth level.”

When asked about his good friend Pablo AIMAR, SCALONI had this to say:

“I have known Pablo (AIMAR) for a long time. Football wise, we think very similarly.”