Scaloni: Cape Verde match most impactful of my 100 games as Argentina coach

Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina, has described the team's dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup's round of 32 as the most profoundly impactful match of his tenure. Scaloni has managed the world champions for 100 games, and this particular encounter left a deep impression on him.

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From the 100 games I have managed, this is the one that has impacted me the most as a coach.

"It's crazy if we were to lose a match like this," Scaloni remarked, emphasizing the unexpected difficulty of the game. He stated that facing the small African nation proved that no opponent in this World Cup can be taken lightly. Argentina, despite being favorites, were pushed to their limits by a determined Cape Verde side.

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It's crazy if we were to lose a match like this.

Scaloni extended his congratulations to the opposing team, acknowledging their quality and validating the notion that there are no easy matches in the tournament. "Today they proved they are a great team," he said, recognizing Cape Verde's impressive debut World Cup performance.

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I want to congratulate the opponents because when people say there are no more easy games, today they proved they are a great team.

The Argentine coach also lauded his own players for their resilience and effort. "I am proud of the contribution of all the players because we finished the match extremely tired, but they gave everything until the final whistle," Scaloni stated. Despite the hard-fought win, he stressed the importance of immediate improvement before their upcoming round of 16 match against Egypt, acknowledging that Argentina was forced to work exceptionally hard by Cape Verde.

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I am proud of the contribution of all the players because we finished the match extremely tired, but they gave everything until the final whistle.