Lionel Scaloni acknowledged that it would have been “unbelievable” for Argentina to lose his 100th match as head coach after the Albiceleste narrowly avoided a shocking elimination against Cape Verde. Lionel Messi and his teammates were forced into extra time before progressing, with Scaloni commending his players’ determination following a demanding encounter.
Argentina survive a huge scare from Cape Verde
Scaloni’s 100th fixture leading Argentina almost ended in disaster as the reigning world champions were pushed to their limits by Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup round of 32. The Albiceleste struggled to assert their usual dominance and only clinched a 3-2 victory after extra time, booking their place in the last 16. Cape Verde’s energetic and disciplined performance left Argentina battling hard in what turned out to be one of their most testing knockout matches in recent memory.
Reflections on a landmark evening
The Argentina coach admitted the night carried extra meaning as it marked his century of matches in charge, while he also recognised just how close his team came to a stunning exit.
“This team never gives up. It would’ve been crazy to lose in my 100th game, but that’s football,” Scaloni told TyC Sports. “It was a very difficult match. You must always highlight the positives — this team never stops fighting. I congratulate our opponents. When people say there are no easy teams, today they proved exactly that — they’re a great side.”
Lessons learned despite the win
Scaloni lauded the mental toughness of his players after they overcame fatigue and tactical challenges throughout the 120-minute battle. The Argentine boss admitted he was never entirely at ease, even when his team appeared to be in control for significant portions of the contest.
“I’m a bit skeptical, and I never consider us qualified until it’s official,” he remarked. “Experience has taught me that. The match was messy, and it could have gone either way, even though we had most of the ball.”
“They said we were on the easier side of the draw, but now everyone knows there are no easy matches. We knew it would be tough. We suffered a lot, but we deserved the win. The opponents made it difficult for us. I’ll talk to the players about what we can improve, but I’ll concentrate on the positives: we kept attacking, we absorbed the pressure, and we managed to get the victory.”
Focus shifts to Egypt
With this result, Argentina advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Egypt — who defeated Australia on penalties — in Atlanta on Tuesday.
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