Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Brazil's Round-of-16 elimination showed the brutal parity of the ongoing World Cup, pointing to a missed chance by Endrick against Norway as the moment that decided their fate.

“Norway is a very good team. I think if Endrick had scored that goal, when it was still 0-0, we would be talking about something else today. That is the reality of football,” said the Argentina coach.

Speaking ahead of Argentina's own Round of 16 tie with Egypt on Tuesday, Scaloni added that Brazil's exit could easily have befallen his own side.

“They were eliminated just as it could have happened to us the other day [against Cape Verde] and as it can happen to most teams, but I think they faced a great rival.”

“I was convinced that if the other day the team didn't show that temperament, we would be out, for sure,” he admitted, recalling the narrow 3-2 win over newcomers Cape Verde in the Round of 32.

“We are, as we said the other day about Cape Verde, alert because Egypt is also a good rival,” Scaloni said.

The 48-year-old praised Egypt's structure and coaching continuity, noting they had “complicated all their rivals” throughout the tournament.

Asked about Mohamed Salah and Omar Marmoush, Scaloni insisted Argentina would not alter their approach. “Salah is a great player, it will be a pleasure to face him,” he said, adding the team would take “precautions collectively” without changing their scheme.

He described the mentality he asks of his players as one rooted in instinct rather than instruction. “Sometimes tactics go out the window, strategy goes out the window because when you can't, you have to break the scheme in some way.”

He also raised concerns over fixture congestion, hinting at rotation for the Egypt clash. “We will try to have some of those kids play so we can be a bit fresher,” he said.