After leading his team to a 3-1 victory over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals and securing progression, Argentina head coach Scaloni gave an interview to DSPORTS.

Lionel, in Argentina's recent friendlies, you in a way reminded everyone that the matches at this World Cup would be very difficult, and you also, to some extent, issued a warning to all Argentines. Now, with another semifinal approaching, what qualities does this team possess that allow it to consistently show the kind of stubborn resilience that makes it seem as if it has an extra life?

The truth is, we had to battle hard today. We knew beforehand that they were a very physical team, and in that aspect, I think they really caused us a lot of problems, preventing us from successfully breaking out of certain difficult situations. But to be honest, luck was on our side today. That was the reality, because one of their players was sent off with a red card, and only then were we able to start attacking in numbers.

We have to remain realistic. There are certainly still many areas where we need to improve and develop, but winning the match is always the better outcome. That said, what this team achieved today is undoubtedly historic. Leaving aside the fact that we could have performed better, reaching the final again—sorry, I misspoke, the semifinal—is itself a historic moment worthy of being written into the history books.

So next you will face England. Given the broader context that everyone has been discussing so intensely recently, and all the special significance this match carries, what does it mean for you?

Whether the opponent is England or Norway, it makes no difference to us. This is the reality we are going to face: we will be up against a team that performs extremely well on the pitch, executes its tactics exceptionally well, and also has an outstanding head coach. What we need to do next is recover physically, because right now we urgently need to help the players regain their fitness. I think that is the most crucial thing at the moment.