Amid expectations for a possible clash between Argentina and Brazil in the World Cup, the coach of the Argentine national team, Lionel Scaloni, chose to avoid any controversy. He reacted to recent comments from Carlo Ancelotti, Brazil’s coach, avoiding inflaming the historic rivalry and focusing on a positive interpretation of his colleague’s statements.
During a press conference held this Sunday (21), in Dallas, the day before his team’s match against Austria, Scaloni was asked about the statements made three days earlier by Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, who leads the Brazilian team.
Before a game against Haiti, Ancelotti had assessed the World Cup scenario, using Argentina as an example. “There are teams that are not favorites, but play excellent football. I believe that this World Cup will be of high intensity. Argentina, although they do not play with the same intensity, play very well, standing out for their dedication, tireless fight and aggressive defense. I think that the big stars will not be the decisive factor in the World Cup”, were the words of the Italian coach.
Even faced with the opportunity to create friction, Scaloni preferred to avoid any clash, ensuring that he had perfectly understood the intention behind Ancelotti’s words.
“He expressed it in a positive way. There was no mistake in his speech, on the contrary, he praised our team. Ancelotti mixed Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. In my reading, it was a compliment, not a criticism”, explained the Argentine coach.
Scaloni complemented his analysis, emphasizing the need to understand the concept of intensity. “It is essential to understand what intensity means. The weather is hot, and the players feel tired. Currently, the midfield is the sector where most of the confrontations are decided”, declared the coach.
Currently, Argentina and Austria occupy the top positions in Group J, both with three points. A victory for Argentina this Monday will ensure Lionel Messi’s team will qualify for the second phase of the tournament. If Jordan fails to beat Algeria, Argentina will guarantee the lead in the group one round in advance. The game will be in Dallas, at 2 pm (Brasília time).