Argentina's national team coach, Lionel Scaloni, was self-critical after the team's 2-1 victory over Mauritania in an international friendly at La Bombonera. Scaloni stated that the team did not play well, particularly in the second half. "It's logical that we didn't deserve it, he was training very well and inspiring all his teammates," he said. He also sent a heartfelt message to Joaquín Panichelli, the Racing Strasbourg striker who suffered a serious injury that will rule him out of the rest of the season and a possible call-up to the World Cup. Scaloni also commented on the physical strength of the Mauritanian team and the level of the competition, stating that "easy opponents don't exist" and that the match served as good preparation for what's to come. Finally, Scaloni addressed the serious injury to Joaquín Panichelli, who ruptured his right anterior cruciate ligament, calling it "very sad" and admitting he should have started his press conference with that news.
