'No need for statements..' Lionel Scaloni provides befitting reply to Raphinha's remarks in the post-match press conference

South American rivals, Argentina and Brazil faced each other in an epic CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier on March 26th in Buenos Aires. Prior to the opening whistle, Barcelona captain Raphinha made some stern X-rated comments about the hosts and the fixture in an attempt to provoke the reigning World Champions in an interview with former Brazil star Romario.

“We’re going to give them a beating,” he told Romario

However, Raphinha failed to back up his words with a performance on the field as Brazil was humbled 4-1 by the reigning World Champions.

Lionel Scaloni de-escalates the situation 

The World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, addressed Raphina's statement in the press conference. He asserted that regardless of all the buzz and controversies off the pitch, both teams looked to execute their game plan. He believed Raphinha didn't intend to harm anyone with his statements and it was more of a patriotic outburst than anything else.

"Whether there were statements or not, both teams would have played in their own style. Raphinha is defending his country, and I don’t believe there is any intention to harm anyone," Scaloni said.

"There’s no need for statements for the game to be played this way. We didn’t play like this because of that," he added.

Argentina defeated Brazil with a commanding 4-1 scoreline. Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez, Mac Allister, and Simeone were among the goal scorers for Argentina. Matheus Cunha scored Brazil's sole goal. The match had its fair share of heated altercations and rough tackles. Both sides had 5 bookings each.

"It was a collective victory because we played as one team, and that’s why we succeeded in narrowing the gap with Brazil. It’s the only way to overcome these players. I believe we played fantastic matches, and the most important thing is to understand each game individually. There is still a lot to be done, and a lot can happen. We move from one task to another, and we enjoy being here," Scaloni explained.

The victory ensured Argentina continued to lead the FIFA CONMEBOL standings. Argentina sits at the top with 31 points in 14 matches, while Brazil is placed fourth with 21 points to their name.