Scaloni: Referees Aren’t Favouring Argentina, Ecuador Also a Title Contender

On July 3, Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni addressed the media ahead of their Copa América quarter-final match against Ecuador, addressing Lionel Messi’s fitness and the impartiality of the referees.

Regarding Messi’s condition, Scaloni said, “We’ll decide if Messi will play after Saturday’s training session. He felt good yesterday, but we need to monitor him further. His absence would impact everyone, that’s obvious. We’re doing everything possible to have him available, and if not, we’ll choose the most suitable replacement. I haven’t had an in-depth discussion with him about this yet; I believe it’s more appropriate to talk after the final training session.”

Speaking about the opponent, Ecuador, Scaloni remarked, “Past records don’t mean much; every game is a new challenge. Despite having a favorable record of 11 wins and 5 draws against them, those stats don’t guarantee anything.”

Commenting on the Spanish national team, Scaloni expressed, “I sincerely wish Spain all the best in the Euros. With Spanish roots in my family, I’m proud of their performances. I have great respect for Spain’s coach Luis de la Fuente and wish them success.”

Addressing referee neutrality, Scaloni emphasized, “I never think referees favor us. Similar claims were made during the World Cup in Qatar, but I firmly believe that’s not the case. Whenever a team wins, there are always accusations of bias, but referees are human and can make mistakes. Even with VAR, human errors can’t be entirely avoided.”

On the competitive landscape of the Copa América, Scaloni pointed out, “This edition is incredibly competitive, and any team can win it. I’ve said before that Ecuador has the potential to fight for the title, and I still stand by that opinion.”

Reflecting on his own suspension from the previous match against Peru, Scaloni said, “Being suspended for that game was quite unusual. I hope such incidents don’t happen again. I enjoy being alongside the players, and I want to continue supporting them on this journey.”

Lastly, Scaloni praised Lautaro Martínez’s performance, stating, “I expect Lautaro Martínez to maintain his excellent form. He’s seized his opportunities and made significant contributions to the team, which is very reassuring.”