Lionel Scaloni appeared visibly emotional after Argentina secured a hard-fought qualification for the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Following a gruelling encounter against a surprisingly resilient Cape Verde side, the Argentina head coach praised his players’ unwavering determination on what he described as a night of immense suffering. “It would have been madness to lose in my 100th match, but this is football,” Scaloni admitted.

The manager also dismissed any pre-match assumptions that Argentina would coast to an easy win. “Everyone thought it was going to be a walk in the park, but we knew very well that it wouldn’t be,” he stated firmly. Concluding his remarks, Scaloni delivered a powerful message about the team’s identity and mentality: “We can debate whether we played well or badly, but this team never shies away from taking responsibility for the match. It never gives up.”