Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said his team faced a difficult challenge against Algeria despite the 3:0 scoreline in their 17 June Group J opener. 'We knew it would be tough because this is a team that plays very well. They did a fine job, and the match was very complicated despite the final score,' Scaloni told FIFA's official website.
'The first match is always challenging and affects the team in some way,' the Argentina manager explained. He acknowledged that the opening-match loss to Saudi Arabia at Qatar 2022 had remained in the squad's consciousness ahead of this tournament, making the dominant performance psychologically significant.
Scaloni emphasized that the convincing victory provides confidence moving forward. 'This result gives us confidence for what lies ahead,' he said. Argentina's next Group J match is against Austria on 22 June, where they will aim to build on their opening success.
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