Argentina's Scaloni calls out 'easy draw' comments following Cape Verde nail-biter

[p][b]"That was for those who said we had an ‌easy run in the draw,"[/b] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/scaloni-lionel/A1A2ibcF/"]Scaloni[/a] told reporters after Friday's ‌match.[/p][p][b]"Sure, we deserved to win and go through, but it was an extremely ‌difficult match."[/b][/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] arrived as heavy favourites but were forced into a ‌draining battle as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cape-verde/MocyWdm7/"]Cape Verde[/a], huge underdogs on paper, levelled twice and pushed the champions deep into extra time.[/p][p][b]"They finished the match absolutely knackered," [/b]Scaloni said ‌of his players.[/p][p][b]"There are areas for improvement, but ⁠they've shown resilience. The players are ‌tired because of extra time – too many minutes – and some cramps. But when ​they play with their hearts, they can overcome anything.[/b][/p][p][b]"The team showed their character and their worth today."[/b][/p][image alt="Argentina-Cape Verde matchup stats" id="a8ac33a9-9e20-482d-b373-7f1764638166" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="7b23effc-2492-49b1-9505-4920553ae476" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Scaloni acknowledged that the ​contest was far less comfortable than many had predicted, especially after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/cape-verde-MocyWdm7/?mid=O4oeJu9d"]Cape Verde's second equaliser[/a] raised the prospect of a major upset.[/p][p]Left back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lopes-cabral-sidny/t4c8EgYT/"]⁠Sidny Lopes Cabral[/a] curled ​a superb shot into the top corner to put the teams back on level terms in extra time.[/p][p][b]"I just wanted the match to be over,"[/b] said Scaloni. [b]"You saw the stunning goal they scored. I'm always wary. ‌I was calmer than I looked.[/b][/p][p][b]"Everyone thought it would be a walk in the park, but we knew it wouldn't be."[/b][/p][p]Asked whether the responsibility of being favourites weighed on Argentina, Scaloni rejected the suggestion.[/p][p][b]"No. The best thing about this team is that it just keeps going, keeps going, keeps going. The boys keep attacking with their hearts on their boots,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"I think we rose to the occasion. The pitch was strange; the ball wouldn't run as we are used ‌to, not ideal at all."[/b][/p][image alt="Lionel Messi reacts after Argentina defeated Cape Verde" id="6e2b4564-dce1-4a1e-a7bd-f4ebedd80057" credit-line="Peter Joneleit / Zuma Press" guid="3dd339a2-19fe-4345-9580-17e4a4471f14" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p]For Scaloni, the match was also a neat ​summary of Argentina's footballing condition.[/p][p][b]"What does it mean to be ‌Argentine? To suffer," [/b]he said.[/p][p][b]"Cape Verde gave 200 percent, and in football, that levels things out. The fans are the first to understand that this is Argentina, and nothing for us is easy.[/b][/p][p][b]"There is something special to this jersey. We will keep going ⁠forward, and there is no ⁠way we haven't come out ‌of this stronger and will be moving forward."[/b][/p][infobox id="4ccc1b10-d68f-4c97-bcf4-5e613c17c2e3" /]