Winning at the World Cup is never easy: Lionel Scaloni says ‘part of our DNA is suffering’ as Argentina survive Switzerland scare Football News
Argentina’s 3-1 extra-time win over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday showed how comfortable they are in handling difficult situations, coach Lionel Scaloni said.Scaloni said staying calm during difficult moments has become one of the team’s greatest strengths.“We know we’re going to suffer, it’s part of our blood, it’s part of our DNA, and that brings peace of mind,” the coach said.Argentina’s path to the semifinals was not an easy one. In the round of 32, they gave up the lead twice against Cape Verde, eventually winning 3-2. Against Egypt, they fell behind 0-2 and did not complete the comeback until the 79th minute.Scaloni believes winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has helped his players cope with pressure better.“In Qatar we don’t have that much experience, myself included, and the situation is very difficult,” he said.“However, now we are more experienced because we know what it feels like to be dominated by the opponent and concede goals, so today we kept our composure. The team knows how to stay calm and, of course, we will never give up.”Switzerland equalized in the 67th minute and looked capable of pushing the game further, but goals from Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez in extra time sealed Argentina’s place in the last four.Scaloni praised the Swiss for making things difficult for his team.“It’s a tough opponent,” Scaloni said. “It’s hard for us to win duels, having to pass the ball more than five or six times at the same time.“They were very strong and they fought one-on-one in different areas of the pitch. We suffered a lot. “The Argentinian coach also emphasized the impact of substitute players and the strength of the team.“We also have players on the bench who can turn the game around, which is a very good thing,” he said. “Eventually, we always find a solution.”Scaloni said the team’s unity played an important role in the World Cup journey.“That’s a credit to the players because they have to trust the process,” he said. “We are a team. We are together. We are very united. This proves that football is complicated.”He also praised Alexis McAllister, who scored Argentina’s first goal with a header from Lionel Messi’s corner.“Alexis McAllister is one of the greatest players. So all the praise goes to him because he’s been working so hard,” Scaloni said.The victory moved Argentina into the semifinals for the sixth time in the past six major tournaments.“I didn’t expect that, but it’s something to be proud of,” he said.Scaloni concluded by saying that difficult moments are part of any successful World Cup campaign.“When you get to the semifinals, you need to suffer,” Scaloni said. “You need to go through it.”
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