Javier Mascherano: “You have to enjoy because three months ago we were outside”

The technical director of the Argentina U-20 National Team, Javier Mascherano, stressed the importance of “enjoying” these moments of the knockout stages of the World Cup by remembering that “three months ago” the team was “outside” competition. Argentina will face Nigeria tomorrow in San Juan and the coach did not confirm the starting team: “We arrived in the best way we could arrive. With high levels and the group with shooting because the results allowed us to play all a good amount of minutes. Now we have to go for the party with our weapons,” he said at a press conference. The former captain of the senior Argentine National Team highlighted the value of the opportunity to face this instance with the plus of the locality: “You also have to enjoy it because it is an eighth-final of a World Cup and with our people. If three months ago they told us, we would have paid because we were outside,” he said. The team started from lowest to highest in the group stage and are excited to be the surprise of the championship: “The reality is that more than doubts, all this reaffirmed to me that we were not wrong in the boys we brought because anyone is able to play and for the coach it is a blessing, “he explained. In this sense, he anticipated that he will make “some modifications” and pointed out the tranquility generated by “the high level” and the “harmony” of the group. “In a World Cup and in defining instances you meet rivals who demand you to raise your level. We have a third of the most difficult, but it is a challenge and an opportunity because if things go very well we will come out stronger, “he said in reference to Nigeria, the next opponent. He came third in a very tough and difficult group, where he faced two candidates. But we are not here to choose rivals; it’s what we got,” he added and continued: “It’s a strong team, especially physically. We know that running we’re not going to beat them. That’s why it will be key to have the ball and through possession, attack as a block.” The probable formation would be with Federico Gomes Gerth; Agustín Giay, Di Lollo o Avilés, Valentín Gómez and Valentín Barco; Mateo Tanlongo y Perrone o Redondo; Brian Aguirre, Valentín Carboni, Soulé or Romero; and Alejo Veliz.

Original source in Spanish