Buenos Aires, March 31 (NA) – Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni valued that his team "understood the message" after the 5-0 win in the friendly match played tonight against Zambia at "La Bombonera". According to the Argentine News Agency, the coach contrasted the performance of tonight against that of last Friday against Mauritania, a team against which he stated that the team had moments in the second half where it did not play well, by not being able to have possession of the ball, which is why "complications" arose. The national team closed the FIFA date with two wins, against Mauritania 2-1 and with a thrashing against Zambia, both played at Boca's stadium, 72 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Lionel Scaloni faced the press conference with his usual calmness, different from the one he had shown after the match against Mauritania, and stated that "the team played as it knows how to". In addition, the coach valued that the team "reacted" and that, beyond the rival, what happened in the past match "was an accident that can happen, but it cannot be repeated". As he usually says at each conference, Scaloni remembered that no player has a guaranteed place, with no time to relax, and assured that his call-ups are defined by performance, sentencing: "there are players who have given and are giving us a lot, but they have to continue the same because that is what this jersey demands". Finally, regarding the next World Cup, after clarifying that star Lionel Messi has not confirmed whether he will play or not, the native of Pujato stated that "we have to prepare the people because what is coming is going to be very tough", he assured that "hopefully they can continue" to show "great football" as they did tonight, but that time is needed to replace some "era" players, to then state: "all those who are here have possibilities".
