Scaloni insists he always believed Argentina could turn Egypt tie around | OneFootball

Lionel Scaloni insisted he always believed Argentina could turn it around despite being 2-0 down with less than 15 minutes to go against Egypt.

The theme of Argentina’s World Cup knockout stage so far this year has been that they have not made it easy for themselves at all. And that continued on Tuesday.

After needing an extra-time winner from Cristian Romero to beat Cape Verde, Argentina then required a miracle comeback late on to beat Egypt 3-2.

“Against Cape Verde it was worse; we really looked in trouble. Today, even when it was 0-2, the feeling was that at some point we ​would get a chance and ​could turn it ⁠around,” he said. “Today we played totally different football.”

“I always felt the game was on our side. Beyond the result, I ​don’t think the team was playing badly. We had chances.”

Scaloni was also full of praise for Lionel Messi, who missed a penalty in the first half, but hammered home the equaliser late on.

“I’m ​convinced that ⁠he plays soccer for moments like this… For him to feel these emotions at this stage of his career is hard to explain,” Scaloni said.

“It was an unforgettable moment, one of the best,” the ⁠coach added. “Whatever ​happens from here on, this team gives me the feeling ​that it never stops believing, even when everything is going against it.”

Scaloni was seen crying after the win. He explained how it felt to win the match in that way.

“I always get emotional. Sometimes the tears come out,” Scaloni told reporters. “The ⁠tears came in the dressing room too. The boys even call me ‘the crybaby,’ but ​I don’t care.

“For all of us who played football for 20 years, to feel what we felt ​today again is incredible. I think most coaches who played soccer become coaches because of days like this, because of those emotions, that adrenaline,” he added.