FIFA favors Argentina? Scaloni responds: "They've been saying that since 1986"

During a press conference held on Friday, Scaloni said that the suspicions surrounding the Argentine team are not new and recalled that similar comments had been circulating since the 1986 world title.

"I don't know if I speak on behalf of Argentina, but since 1986, it was said that we were favored. This is not the case now. As long as I can remember, there has always been criticism and this idea surrounding Argentina", he stated.

According to the coach, the atmosphere of distrust is presented to the players as a stimulus before matches.

"We use this to show that there are people who don't want Argentina to win. It's normal, just as there are those who don't want another team to win. Maybe there are more people rooting against us because we were the last world champions. The players feel this, and we transform this situation into motivation for them to enter the field even more determined", he explained.

Scaloni also defended the use of video referees and stated that technology makes any deliberate favoritism towards a team much more difficult.

"With VAR and everything that exists today, it is very difficult for a team to benefit. In VAR, there is no room for double interpretation in certain moves. Before the World Cup, they clearly explained how decisions would be made, and this has been fulfilled", he said.

The coach cited a move involving Lisandro Martínez to exemplify his assessment. According to him, the player suffered a foul before a goal, and the play was correctly canceled because there was no change of possession of the ball.

"They stepped on his foot. It doesn't matter if it was with a lot of or little force. It was a foul. As possession didn't change, the goal was disallowed. There is no other possible interpretation. On social media, everything takes on a huge dimension and the debate begins, but there was no favoritism", he declared.

Scaloni's demonstrations took place after the match against Egypt, in the round of 16. The referee's performance was criticized by the African team, which publicly questioned the conduct of the game and FIFA's actions.

Scaloni praises Messi again

The Argentine coach also highlighted the performance of Lionel Messi, who reached nine consecutive matches scoring goals in World Cups. For Scaloni, number 10 continues to be the best player in the world.

"Leo runs practically the same way in every game. It's not that he's running more or less. What's happening is that he's being much more decisive, and the team is also helping him," he said.

Scaloni explained that Messi underwent specific physical preparation before the World Cup, but assessed that the striker's movement numbers did not change significantly.

"He is giving everything he has. Thierry Henry, who was his teammate, recently said that Leo realizes when he can create danger. When he identifies this possibility, he becomes a machine", he declared.

The coach also commented on the player's longevity, who is competing in the tournament at the age of 39, and said that the Argentine will continue at the highest level as long as he maintains the desire to compete.

"It may surprise those who don't know him and thought that, at 39 years old, he would no longer be at that level. As long as he wants to play, he will continue to be the best. I'm not just saying that because I'm his coach," he said.

Scaloni also recalled Messi's time at Barcelona led by Pep Guardiola and said he prefers not to imagine the level the striker presented at 23 or 24 years old.

"Anyone who knows him, sees his training and follows the things he does knows what he is capable of. Of course there will come a time when this will end, but as long as he has the desire, he will continue to be the best", he concluded.

Argentina and Switzerland face each other on Saturday night (11), at 10pm, Brasília time. The winner will advance to face, in the semi-final, whoever passes the duel between England and Norway.