Argentina set to face 'tough rival' Ecuador in first World Cup 2022 qualifier

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VIDEO SHOWS: ARGENTINA TRAINING AHEAD OF WORLD CUP QUALIFIER MATCH AGAINST ECUADOR, AND THREE SOUNDBITES FROM HEAD COACH LIONEL SCALONI

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SHOTLIST AND SCRIPT

SHOWS:

EZEIZA, ARGENTINA (OCTOBER 07, 2020) (AFA - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF ARGENTINA TEAM TRAINING SESSION

2. ARGENTINA'S LIONEL MESSI AT TRAINING SESSION

3. VARIOUS OF TEAM MEMBERS PASSING BALL AROUND ON FIELD

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, LIONEL SCALONI, SAYING:

"We know they are a tough opponent. We know this is the start of the qualifiers. We know a lot of things that are obvious, but our idea of soccer is the same no matter who the coach is we're facing or the squad we're facing."

5. TEAM MEMBERS HEADING BALL DURING RONDO

6. SQUAD DURING SCRIMMAGE MATCH

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, LIONEL SCALONI, SAYING:

"It would be great for us if we win and give them (Argentina fans) some happiness. In that sense, the situation is very difficult, very complicated, and the result of tomorrow's game isn't going to change anything with the situation that we're going through (pandemic). It seems to me that soccer today is totally of secondary importance, there's no doubt. Of course, if we at least give them some happiness, they'll feel better just like we all want to and win. But, we hope they enjoy it. They can't go to the match. The few fans that will be there will try to make it go well for us and that's what's important."

8. SQUAD DURING SCRIMMAGE

9. MESSI DURING SCRIMMAGE

10. MORE OF SCRIMMAGE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA COACH, LIONEL SCALONI, SAYING:

"Yes, it's true that this call up is really very difficult with no time to train, with practically no time for the players to have been playing in their own clubs. So, we decided to call up the players we believe will work for us, even though some of them have had little play time, but looking towards the future, it's important for them to play in their clubs."

12. VARIOUS MORE OF TEAM TRAINING SESSION

STORY: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni on Wednesday (October 07) said his squad are ready to face a "tough opponent" ahead of their first South American qualifier match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Argentina will face Ecuador Thursday (October 8) at Boca Juniors stadium in Buenos Aires and five days later play Bolivia on the road in La Paz.

The pressure is on for results from Argentina, who have not lifted a major trophy since winning the Copa America in 1993.

But Scaloni noted that football was "totally of secondary importance" given the coronavirus pandemic battering Argentina, and added he hoped a win would provide happiness for fans.

Argentina's national soccer team resumed activities this week after a long pause during the pandemic that has infected more than 840,000 people and killed more than 22,000 people.

(Production: Miguel Lo Bianco, Patrick Alwine)