Argentina supervisor Lionel Scaloni has given a livid defence of his crew after they obtained criticism following their World Cup quarter-final victory over Holland.
The South American nation reached the semi-finals in a chaotic match which led to ugly scenes following their penalty shoot-out win.
After Lautaro Martinez scored the decisive spot-kick, Argentina gamers appeared to mock their disconsolate Dutch counterparts as they ran away to have fun reaching the following spherical.
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has rubbished claims that his crew are ‘unhealthy winners’
Argentina gamers mocked their Holland counterparts after their penalty shoot-out victory
Forward of Tuesday’s semi-final with Croatia, Scaloni addressed criticisms towards his facet that they’re ‘unhealthy winners’.
He mentioned in his pre-match press convention: ‘We have to put an finish to this concept of Argentina not being good winners.
‘We deeply respect the rivals we performed towards. We misplaced to Saudi Arabia and we stored quiet.
Scaloni referenced Neymar and Lionel Messi sitting collectively after the Copa America closing
‘We gained the Copa America in Brazil with probably the most sporting behaviour – Messi, Neymar, (Leandro) Paredes sitting collectively within the tunnel within the Maracana.’
He added: ‘The sport the opposite day was performed because it needed to be performed. Each on the Dutch facet and on the Argentina facet.
‘In video games like this there are completely different moments and there will be discussions. We all know lose and we all know win.’
FIFA mentioned on Saturday that it had opened disciplinary proceedings towards the Argentinian FA after eight of their gamers obtained yellow playing cards in the course of the sport – with seven handed to Dutch gamers.
Nicolas Otamendi and Paredes who had been prime offenders within the ugly scenes are set to flee punishment – because it penalty shoot-out hero Emi Martinez who claimed that the referee was biased in favour of the Dutch.
Leandro Paredes additionally booted the ball on the Holland bench after a deal with on Nathan Ake
Former Man Metropolis defender Otamendi mentioned: ‘I celebrated of their faces as a result of there was a Netherlands participant, who at each penalty kick we had was coming and saying issues to one in every of our gamers,’
Argentine journalists printed footage which appeared to indicate 4 Dutch gamers — Denzel Dumfries, Wout Weghorst, Noa Lang and Frenkie De Jong — all peeling off from their crew huddle on the midway line and attempting to unsettle Lautaro Martinez earlier than his kick.
Dumfries, who was booked for this, admitted the gamesmanship. ‘You attempt to disturb one another, nevertheless it goes backwards and forwards,’ he mentioned. ‘I don’t wish to level the fingers at different gamers, however I had my causes. I don’t know if that was good however one thing occurred that made me react.’
The extraordinary scenes had been sparked by a late Paredes deal with on Nathan Ake, earlier than the midfielder then thumped the ball into the Dutch bench — to the fury of Louis van Gaal’s employees.
Lionel Messi and Emi Martinez additionally hit out at Dutch employees following their quarter-final win
Paredes was then physique checked by a Virgil van Dijk chest bump with each gamers receiving yellow playing cards.
Afrer the match, referee Antonio Lahoz confirmed a purple to Dumfries and a yellow to Argentina assistant Walter Samuel .
Aston Villa keeper Martinez, who saved two spot-kicks, was on the coronary heart of a lot of the acrimony, taunting the Dutch employees and bench. ‘Maintain your mouth shut you f***ing t***! I f***ed you twice!’ he mentioned.
Messi additionally unleashed his fury on van Gaal’s employees, breaking away from one TV interview to shout at one in every of them: ‘What are you taking a look at? Idiot!’
Argentina will subsequent play Croatia who remarkably knocked out pre-tournament favourites Brazil
Messi took goal at Van Gaal over his direct techniques, saying: ‘Van Gaal says that they [Holland] play good soccer however what he did was placed on tall individuals and hit lengthy balls.’ Messi confronted Van Gaal, with Dutch assistant coach Edgar Davids taking part in peacemaker.
They now face a Croatia facet who remarkably emerged victorious through penalties towards pre-tournament favourites Brazil.
Argentina know in regards to the issues Croatia pose – after dropping 3-0 to them within the group stage 4 years in the past in Russia.
