Lionel Scaloni says World Cup has no clear favourite

ATLANTA: Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni believes the FIFA World Cup has become one of the most unpredictable tournaments in recent memory, with traditional football powerhouses finding it increasingly difficult to dominate their opponents.

The defending champions head into Tuesday's Round of 16 encounter against Egypt after surviving a major scare in the previous round.

Although Argentina won all three of their group-stage matches comfortably, they were pushed to extra time by Cape Verde before eventually securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory.

Argentina are not alone in facing stern resistance. France required a penalty to edge past Paraguay, Spain needed a stoppage-time winner against Portugal, while Brazil and Germany have already suffered early exits.

"I think this World Cup is very tricky for everyone, it seems there is no clear favourite," Scaloni said.

"There are no national teams that, as we used to see before the World Cup, were clear favourites. The conditions are also very different from what we had seen in prior editions.

"And I understand that most players have played a great deal of matches, and that is a lot of games on the legs. And that is why maybe the level is not the one we are used to seeing.

"Beyond the fact that there are four or five main favourites, those teams are not showcasing the football that we would expect before the World Cup."

Despite acknowledging the challenges, Scaloni remains pleased with his side's performances.

"Argentina's level is acceptable," the manager said.

"We won the four matches, and I think that is a reason to be satisfied. There are always things that we can fine-tune, even when you win.

"This World Cup is difficult. The travel, the heat, the pitches, the grass... sometimes the ball doesn't move well. There are a lot of factors that make it hard to really show your superiority."