Argentina punished England after sensing weakness, doubts, says Scaloni W’Cup semi-final win

Argentina's World Cup semi-final victory over England was fueled by a perceived shift in the opponent's mentality, according to head coach Lionel Scaloni. He stated that his team sensed England's doubts after taking the lead, which spurred Argentina to seize the momentum and secure a dramatic 2-1 comeback win.

“

The opponent doubted themselves a bit. We smelled blood and went for it. We all felt it.

"The opponent doubted themselves a bit. We smelled blood and went for it. We all felt it," Scaloni said. He emphasized that his players maintained composure after conceding first, showcasing their footballing prowess beyond mere tactics.

“

Yes, after England scored we showed a lot about our football. It’s more than tactics and playing pretty football.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez echoed this sentiment, observing that England became increasingly defensive after scoring. "We felt it. We felt them going backwards and backwards rather than going forward," he remarked. Martínez suggested that teams winning should still push forward, rather than solely focusing on defense.

“

I’m lost for words. A great happiness for our country and our people… This shirt merits us giving absolutely everything possible until the very end.

With the win, Argentina advances to their second consecutive World Cup final, where they will face Spain. England and France will play for third place.

“

We felt it. We felt them going backwards and backwards rather than going forward.