Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has taken aim at FIFA scheduling for the World Cup, complaining that Australia will have a greater amount of rest time ahead of the albiceleste‘s clash with the Socceroos on Saturday night (local time, 6am Sunday AEDT).
Scaloni fired up in the post-match press conference, despite the Socceroos also having played the same day and, at best, enjoying just three hours more rest than the Argentinians.
“I want to make it clear that it is crazy that we only have two and a half days off being top of the group,” said Scaloni, whose side finished first in Group C and earned a meeting in the Round of 16 with Australia, who were runner’s up in Group D.
“I can’t understand it, now it’s one in the morning (at the time of the press conference), tomorrow is Thursday and the next day it’s time to prepare for the game and play. The conditions are not given for this to be the case, but hey, it is the same for both of us. We are first in the group and we could have had more rest, really.”
But speaking later to Argentinian TV station TyC, he was more equivocal, comparing the situation of Argentina to Poland, who finished second but will gain an extra night of rest before they face France – who played simultaneously with Australia – on Monday morning (AEDT).
“We are first in the group – If we had finished third, we’d be out at it would be better,” he said ironically. “It’s two in the morning and we’re still here while Australia is already resting. But hey, it is what it is. We are first. We should have played earlier (today) or played (against Australia) another day later but hey, FIFA decided like this.”
Argentina changed four players for their final group game and then removed others as the result looked secure, revealing that Angel di Maria had been taken off due to a quad complaint as a cautionary measure. Despite that, the coach confirmed that all players are available for the Socceroos match.
“There are 26 that can play,” said Scaloni. “Some time ago the team went out of memory but we suffered changes, injuries, players who arrived at different rates and we always thought about the collective good”
On the game itself, Scaloni said he would respect his opponents.
“They are all difficult,” he said. “(Saudi) Arabia beat us. Even playing well you can lose. Anyone who thinks Australia will be easy is wrong.
“We are not favourites for anything. We are going to fight, but to think that because we won today we are going to be champions is totally wrong. We played a very good game and we have to stay with that. The way we lost to Saudi Arabia still hurts me.
“We saw Australia (against Denmark) but we always go game by game. We are going to ask questions of our opponent, we are going to analyse whatever, always thinking about how to hurt them.”
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Lionel Messi says police behaved with brutality, beating Argentine fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during Brazil's World Cup qualifying defeat.…
Seven months on from their gripping World Cup round of 16 clash in Doha, world champions Argentina have defeated Australia 2-0 in Beijing. An…
The alarm bells were ringing on 22 November across Argentina. The Albiceleste lost their first game of the FIFA World Cup to Middle Eastern…
The long-standing debate between Lionel Messi devotees and those believing that Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest modern footballer is finally settled. Once and…
Argentina has collectively lost its mind in honour of the victorious World Cup champions.
All the latest news from Qatar.
