Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed criticism of his players바카라 behavior during the feisty World Cup quarterfinal match against the Netherlands, saying Monday it is 바카라out of touch with reality.바카라 (More Football News)
There were 17 yellow cards 바카라 a record for a World Cup match 바카라 and one sending-off as players clashed on numerous occasions before and after Argentina won a penalty shootout to advance to the semifinals.
Scaloni said it was unfair that his players were accused of bad sportsmanship, pointing to previous examples of how they have behaved after matches 바카라 whether they won or lost.
바카라We have to remove this taboo that we do not know how to lose and we do not know how to win,바카라 said Scaloni, speaking a day before Argentina바카라s match against Croatia in the semifinals. 바카라We lost our first game with Saudi Arabia and went quietly to the hotel to continue preparing for what was coming.
바카라We won the Copa America in Brazil (last year) and I think you saw the most beautiful image of sportsmanship you could see, with Neymar, (Lionel) Messi, (Leandro) Paredes and other players sitting on the steps of the Maracana.바카라
Scaloni said the criticism had hurt Argentina바카라s 바카라pride.바카라
바카라This issue must be settled,바카라 he said through an interpreter. 바카라We deeply respect the Netherlands, as we do now for Croatia and all our rivals.
바카라We must banish the idea that we do not know how to win or lose. That is totally out of touch with reality.바카라
Since the shocking loss to Saudi Arabia, Argentina has been one more defeat away from elimination but handled the pressure and put together three straight wins to reach the quarterfinals. There, the team conceded goals in the 83rd minute and in the 11th minute of stoppage time to be taken to extra time by the Netherlands.
Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico said his team is thriving on playing on the edge.
바카라We have enough experience to be like this at the moment,바카라 said the left back, who will likely return to the team against Croatia in place of the suspended Marcos Acuna. 바카라In knockout matches, there will be moments where we will have to suffer.
바카라We have the necessary personality to live it and make it something to enjoy. We are defending the colors of the national team.바카라
Argentina has struggled to retain its composure late in games in the knockout stage, with Australia creating big chances in the final minutes in the round of 16 and the Netherlands then coming from two goals down.
Scaloni accepted that was something Argentina needed to work on but said the team was struggling to adapt to the increased amount of stoppage time played at this year바카라s World Cup.
바카라It is something new to play eight, nine, 10 minutes of added time and it adds some insecurity for the team that is winning,바카라 Scaloni said. 바카라This is a whole new situation that바카라s happening in this World Cup. I won바카라t say if it is fair or not but it will become normal in future games.바카라
