Argentina coach Scaloni admits he has no more words for Messi
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he is running out of words to explain Lionel Messi's performances. The coach praised the captain again after the number 10 scored in the 3-1 victory over Jordan, this Saturday (27), in the World Cup.
With the free kick in the 35th minute of the second half, Messi became the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. The Argentine surpassed the mark he shared with Frenchman Just Fontaine and Brazilian Jairzinho.
"It's a slightly uncomfortable situation when people ask me that, because I don't know what else to say," said Scaloni when asked about another great performance from the star. Messi started the match on the bench and came on 15 minutes into the final stage.
According to Scaloni, the decision was also related to the concern about preserving the player for the next challenges. "Today he could have played 90 minutes and, without diminishing our opponent, he wanted his teammates to also have time on the field and prepare for what lies ahead," he explained.
The coach highlighted that Messi is not worried about individual numbers. "He doesn't think so much about the numbers that people comment on. The only word that comes to mind is surprise," he said. The Argentine victory was built calmly.
Before Messi's goal, Giovani Lo Celso, with a free kick, and Lautaro Martínez, with a penalty, put the world champion team at an advantage. It was the first time in this World Cup that Argentina's goals were not scored by Messi. With the goal, the 39-year-old striker reached six in the competition and took the lead in the World Cup's artillery.
Scaloni also took advantage of the match to rotate the squad and made nine changes to the starting lineup. The coach approved the performance of the players who received the opportunity. "My assessment is very positive, mainly because I managed to put all the players on the field. It was a goal we always had. Everyone deserves to enjoy a World Cup and play in a World Cup," he said.
Argentina faces Cape Verde in the second phase of the World Cup, in Miami, and Scaloni made a point of praising the opponent, who is playing in his first World Cup. "I'm not surprised. They're a good team, they made every game difficult. Spain couldn't win, neither did Uruguay. They're a fast team, they play well and have a lot of quality. I can guarantee they'll make it difficult for us," he said.
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Source: CNN