DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni dismissed criticism of his gamers’ conduct throughout the feisty World Cup quarterfinal match in opposition to the Netherlands, saying Monday it’s “out of contact with actuality.”There have been 17 yellow playing cards — a report for a World Cup match — and one sending-off as gamers clashed on quite a few events earlier than and after Argentina gained a penalty shootout to advance to the semifinals.Scaloni mentioned it was unfair that his gamers have been accused of unhealthy sportsmanship, pointing to earlier examples of how they’ve behaved after matches — whether or not they gained or misplaced.“Now we have to take away this taboo that we have no idea tips on how to lose and we have no idea tips on how to win,” mentioned Scaloni, talking a day earlier than Argentina’s match in opposition to Croatia within the semifinals. “We misplaced our first recreation with Saudi Arabia and went quietly to the resort to proceed making ready for what was coming.“We gained the Copa America in Brazil (final yr) and I feel you noticed probably the most lovely picture of sportsmanship you may see, with Neymar, (Lionel) Messi, (Leandro) Paredes and different gamers sitting on the steps of the Maracana.”Scaloni mentioned the criticism had damage Argentina’s “satisfaction.”“This challenge should be settled,” he mentioned by means of an interpreter. “We deeply respect the Netherlands, as we do now for Croatia and all our rivals.“We should banish the concept we have no idea tips on how to win or lose. That’s completely out of contact with actuality.”Because the stunning loss to Saudi Arabia, Argentina has been another defeat away from elimination however dealt with the strain and put collectively three straight wins to succeed in the quarterfinals. There, the group conceded objectives within the 83rd minute and within the eleventh minute of stoppage time to be taken to additional time by the Netherlands.Argentina defender Nicolas Tagliafico mentioned his group is prospering on enjoying on the sting.“Now we have sufficient expertise to be like this in the mean time,” mentioned the left again, who will probably return to the group in opposition to Croatia instead of the suspended Marcos Acuna. “In knockout matches, there will probably be moments the place we must endure.“Now we have the required character to stay it and make it one thing to get pleasure from. We’re defending the colours of the nationwide group.”Argentina has struggled to retain its composure late in video games within the knockout stage, with Australia creating massive probabilities within the last minutes within the spherical of 16 and the Netherlands then coming from two objectives down.Scaloni accepted that was one thing Argentina wanted to work on however mentioned the group was struggling to adapt to the elevated quantity of stoppage time performed at this yr’s World Cup.“It’s one thing new to play eight, 9, 10 minutes of added time and it provides some insecurity for the group that’s successful,” Scaloni mentioned. “This can be a complete new state of affairs that’s occurring on this World Cup. I gained’t say whether it is honest or not however it is going to change into regular in future video games.”___Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80___