2024-02-12 00:45:00
Javier Mascherano He confirmed that he will be the one to lead the Argentine National Team in the Paris Olympic Games and that, after the victory against Brazil, he received a personal congratulatory telephone greeting from Lionel Messi in the Caracas locker room. “I am friends with Leo and Angel (because of Messi and Di María) and they have earned the right to define what they decide. Angel already said that he will leave the National Team after the Copa América. “I’m going to talk about this with Leo later, now is not the time,” said the coach regarding Messi being summoned by AFA to participate in the Games as one of the three authorized people over 23 years of age.
“We were the best team in the tournamentwe surpassed each of our seven rivals (three wins and four draws) but we had the bad luck that in the first two games of the final round, the results we had achieved in the game escaped us,” Mascherano declared to TyC Sports.
Regarding the victory against Brazil, the coach indicated: “When we saw their formation, we realized that we were going to have the obligation to go out and look for the game because they were going to play waiting and counterattacking.”. In the first half we did not find the situations to break even and in the second, Lea’s saves (by goalkeeper Brey) were key to keeping us in the game. In the end, we were able to make the difference and I think we beat them very well and we could have even scored another goal.”
Finally, Mascherano emphasized the criticism he received for some of his decisions during the Pre-Olympic, such as keeping striker Gondou on the bench until the match with Brazil. “I accept criticism because it helps us grow and know where we stand. I know what I am exposed to when I coach a National Team. “Today the ball went in and we are happy and tomorrow it won’t go in and we are going to be sad but if I have the support of the president of the AFA and the youth coordinator it is because more or less we are doing things well,” said the AFA coach. Sub 23.