Lionel Scaloni maintained his usual composure after the Argentine National Team qualified for the semifinals of the Copa América following a dramatic victory on penalties over Ecuador. The match ended 1-1 in regular time, and the Argentine coach expressed mixed emotions about the win. 'Winning like that is not enjoyable. I didn't have a good time at all,' acknowledged Scaloni.
During the press conference at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Scaloni praised his team for their overall performance and resilience. 'I am satisfied because we qualified and because the team is there. Regardless of whether it plays well or badly, the team responds and that is redeemable. And on penalties, we feel confidence in our goalkeeper,' said Scaloni.
The Argentine coach also heaped praise on goalkeeper Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez, whose heroics in the penalty shootout were crucial. 'The thing about Emiliano is... there are no words anymore. He not only brushes or takes the balls in penalties, but he saves them. You can feel the noise when he saves them. It's impressive,' Scaloni remarked.
Scaloni also addressed Lionel Messi's condition, noting that Messi had a minor injury that had ruled him out of the match against Peru. 'I was asking Leo how he was doing, and he stayed on the field because he told me he was fine. Angel Di María was warming up just in case,' said the coach. Scaloni added, 'I think Messi finished well; I don't think he will have problems playing in the semifinals.'
Reflecting on the match, Scaloni admitted that it was a challenging game. 'The game knew it was going to go like this. The team's process in the first half was good beyond the fact that they did not feel comfortable. In the end, it was a game of chess; they did their game and made it difficult for us,' he said. Scaloni also noted that Argentina could have scored more if they had been sharper in the first half. 'It was a very difficult game. Among the negatives, I have many things in my mind and I have to see it again; there are always things to improve.'
The match summary showed that Argentina, the absolute favorite of the Copa América, had a strong group stage performance with 9 points out of 9 possible. Despite Messi missing the duel with Peru, the team managed to secure a win against Ecuador in the quarterfinals. Lautaro Martínez, the top scorer of the tournament, continued his excellent form, while Argentina remained the only team not to concede a goal in the tournament.
In contrast, Ecuador faced pressure and uncertainty, especially on coach Félix Sánchez. The Ecuadorian team had mixed results in the group stage, drawing with Mexico and losing to Venezuela. Despite this, they managed to advance to the quarterfinals. Historically, Argentina has dominated the encounters between the two teams, winning eight out of the last 13 matches.
- The quarterfinal match between Argentina and Ecuador was a tense affair, with both teams showing moments of brilliance and vulnerability. Argentina's solid defense and the exceptional form of Lautaro Martínez were key factors in their journey to the semifinals.
- Ecuador, although under pressure, showed resilience and determination. The performances of Moisés Caicedo and Enner Valencia were notable, highlighting the blend of youth and experience in the team. However, they fell short against the reigning champions.
- The victory sets up a semifinal clash for Argentina against the winner of the Venezuela-Canada match. As the tournament progresses, the stakes get higher, and Argentina will need to address their shortcomings to continue their quest for the Copa América title.
