Lionel Scaloni insists he was not shocked by Lionel Messi’s sensational efficiency on the World Cup, describing the Argentina captain as a “machine”.
Argentina booked their place within the World Cup quarter-finals with an exhilarating comeback in opposition to Egypt, with Messi main the way in which with yet one more influential play.
Egypt led 2-0 with targets from Yasser Ibrahim and Mostafa Zico, with Mostafa Shobeir changing Messi’s penalty within the first half to attain.
Nevertheless, Messi sparked a comeback within the 79th minute with a header from Cristian Romero, and moments later the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s equalizer hit the crossbar.
Enzo Fernandes was the late hero together with his 92nd-minute successful purpose, however Messi continued to seize the headlines. He turned the primary participant in World Cup historical past to attain in six consecutive video games within the knockout levels, extending his scoring streak within the event to 9 consecutive video games.
Messi has scored eight targets at this yr’s World Cup, tied with Kylian Mbappe for essentially the most targets. The one South American participant to attain extra factors in a single event was Brazil’s Ademir (9 targets) in 1950.
However regardless that Messi turned 39 through the event, Scaloni all the time anticipated the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner to carry out at this stage.
“Leo runs just about the identical approach in each sport,” Scaloni informed reporters earlier than the quarterfinal match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas Metropolis Stadium.
“Bodily, it is true that he is been performing some warm-up work together with his health coach and it is helped, however when it comes to numbers, I do not know if he is modified that a lot.
“What’s clear is he is giving all the pieces he is acquired. When he offers all the pieces he is acquired and feels he can create hazard, he is a machine.”
Scaloni added that those that anticipated age to meet up with the Inter Miami star didn’t know sufficient about him.
“That does not shock me,” Scaloni added. “Perhaps individuals who do not know him anticipated that at 39 years previous he would not attain this stage.
“However I am unable to inform you what number of instances I’ve stated it. So long as he desires to, he will be the perfect. I feel so. Not as a result of I am his coach.”
Argentina’s subsequent check was Switzerland, the place they defeated Colombia on penalties to succeed in their fourth quarter-final.
Argentina performed Switzerland on the World Cup, successful each instances 2-0 in 1966 and 1-0 in 2014, and this was the final assembly between the 2 groups within the event.
Since dropping 2-1 to Saudi Arabia within the opening sport of 2022, Argentina have remained unbeaten of their final 11 World Cup matches (W9 D2), the longest unbeaten streak within the event’s historical past, however Switzerland will pose a menace.
They’re the one group nonetheless on the again foot with a complete of 11 video games (six qualifying video games, 5 finals) through the 2026 World Cup, together with qualifying and finals.
“They’ve an extended historical past within the World Cup,” Scaloni admitted. “They’ve bodily very skilled gamers.
“They’re robust. In order that they’ll be a tricky opponent, that is for certain.”
“We’ve a variety of respect for them, identical to another opponent. They eradicated Colombia. Colombia had a fantastic efficiency on this World Cup.”
The winner of this showdown will face both Norway or England for a spot within the high-profile match on July nineteenth.
