Argentina beat Chile 3-0 in the 7th round of the South American group stage of the World Qualifiers on September 6, Beijing time, and head coach Scaloni gave an in-depth summary of the match in the post-match press conference. He began by acknowledging the complexity of the proceedings, noting that the team was not at its best at the end of the first half. However, timely adjustments at halftime allowed the team to come out refreshed in the second half, displaying a different style of play and ultimately securing a fair victory. Scaloni expressed satisfaction with the large number of chances created by his players in the opposing half and emphasized that the team almost always converts when they play well.
Talking about the performance of individual players, Scaloni specifically mentioned Dybala. He regretted that Dybala was unable to participate in the Copa America, but was confident in his performance in the national team. He revealed that the number 10 jersey was given to Dybala out of recognition of his strength, and his teammates also supported the decision, believing that Dybala fully deserved this symbolic jersey. In addition, Scaloni praised Garnacho, who came on as a substitute, saying that he understands the demands of the game, has performed well and is a great addition to the team.
For veteran Di Maria, Scaloni expressed great respect, saying that the door of the national team is always open for him, and that he is a legend of the country and the team. As for Lo Celso taking over Di Maria's No. 11 jersey, Scaloni said it was an amicable negotiation between the players, who focused more on the team spirit behind the jersey than its symbolism.
Finally, Scaloni also talked about the possibility of relocating the Argentine national team's home stadium, humorously stating that if it were up to him, he would choose to play near his home so that his family could watch. At the same time, he also revealed that if the team gets out of the tournament early, he will increase the playing time of the substitutes and give them more chances to show their performance. Scaloni emphasized that these opportunities will be based on the performance of the players and the needs of the team, and not given arbitrarily.
