Scaloni reflects on Brazil exit as Argentina face Egypt in the round of 16

Scaloni: "If Endrick scores that goal, we're talking about something else"

Scaloni watched Brazil go out. Not closely, because training and a storm got in the way, but he saw enough. "Norway are a good team," he said. "If Endrick scores that goal at 0–0, we'd be talking about something else. They faced a big rival, that's the reality. We're on alert, because we're also going to face a big rival" (7).

That rival is Egypt. Tuesday night. Round of 16.

Paredes: no easy games after Cape Verde

Argentina needed extra time to beat Cape Verde 3–2 in the round of 32 on Friday (10) (13). Lisandro Martinez scored the late winner, and the dressing room got the message.

Paredes put it plainly: "The lesson is that there will not be any easy game, as will happen with Egypt." Scaloni didn't let them coast after the goal. "He did not say 'they don't play any more,' but to give their best and keep trying, pressing. That we leave everything until the end" (10).

The Cape Verde scars

Cape Verde pushed Argentina all the way. Deroy Duarte and Sidny Cabral got on the scoresheet for the underdogs. Diney Borges anchored a backline that held until Martinez's intervention. It was a warning, and the squad knows it (10) (13).

Egypt on Tuesday

Messi versus Salah. The defending champions against a side that came out swinging in the press: "We have Salah and 26 Messis" (15).

French referee François Letexier has been appointed for the match, and Argentine fans are not happy. "They want to eliminate us," is the sentiment circulating among supporters (17).

Scaloni's 100th match

The Egypt game marks Scaloni's 100th in charge of Argentina. He took over a team in disarray and turned them into world champions. Seven years, one World Cup, one Copa América. Messi still at the center of it, Scaloni still steering (1).

A final against Spain? Scaloni would take it

Asked about a potential Argentina–Spain final, Scaloni kept it short: "Firmo una final Argentina-España", I'd sign for it (14).