The head coach of the Argentine national team, Lionel Scaloni, appeared at a press conference following the 1-0 loss against Ecuador at the end of the South American qualifiers for the World Cup.

Scaloni said: "When the opponent plays, there are times you have to suffer, and we did that, but we were always in the game." He added: "We entered the second half fearing another red card, and the game slipped a bit out of our control."

He added: "Ecuador is a great team and proved that today, and if they continue to play at this level, they will bring a lot of joy to their fans."

The coach confirmed that the team's performance left him with a positive impression despite the result: "I always look at the positive side because the team is trying and facing situations in its own way. I believe the second half was ours, and we could have done something more, but it didn't happen."

He continued: "We are used to winning, but sometimes that is not possible. The important thing is that the team entered the second half differently, and that is a positive thing."

Regarding the number 10 shirt, he clarified: "Initially, it was supposed to be worn by Thiago Almada, but he couldn’t participate, which is why we gave it to Franco Mastantuno. I think he played well; he always tries and has a strong character."

He added: "Our goal is to continue to trust what has brought us here."

He concluded his remarks by talking about Lionel Messi, who was excluded from the match: "We hope Leo is okay; we made the decision not to risk him."