The world champions, including Otamendi and Enzo, were partnered with over 83,000 fans who won’t soon forget this night. Thiago Almada and Messi score (2-0)
In front of 83,000 fans and a great reception at the Monumental Stadium, Argentina beat Panama 2-0 early on Friday, in a special match, with goals from Thiago Almada (78), of Atlanta United, and Lionel Messi, star of Paris Saint-Germain, near the end (89). ‘). It was a complete party. And whoever thought that the Argentine party ended on December 18 in Lusail when Argentina defeated France and Messi lifted the World Cup after 36 years, it is fair to say that the party continues and will continue at least until the start of the season. World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
This feeling of endless celebration reigned in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina during the past three months, when the third group of champions – after the players of 1978 and 1986 – achieved what already seemed very difficult in the context of international football, as European teams achieved. He won four consecutive World Cup tournaments. Even Brazil did not put an end to that journey that won Europe, and it was Argentina that snapped a 20-year fast in South America, with an inexperienced coach and a group of committed youngsters who helped Messi realize his biggest dream in the last world.
For this reason, I felt the eternal gratitude and enthusiasm of the fans on the streets of the Argentine capital in preparation for the first friendlies, by welcoming the B team from Panama, to celebrate the third star. From Messi, who is waiting for a crowd of people outside a famous restaurant, to 63,000 people who sold out in two hours to watch the match at the Monumental, the largest stadium in South America, with a capacity of 83,214 fans. The Albiceleste made its debut at this renovated stadium, which has the distinction of being the “historic home of the national team” and is now much closer to the stadium. The works on the field, which began during the pandemic, are ready to be completed, coinciding with this moment that was dreamed of by the Albiceleste team, which, after nearly three decades without winning any title, managed to win the America’s Cup, CONMEBOL-UEFA final. And the World Cup is still in Qatar.
Shortly after noon, the players left the training camp with the great challenge of traveling 38 kilometers between the AFC building, in Ezeiza, and the River Plate stadium, in anticipation of the celebrations on December 20, when Da Albiceleste’s bus could not complete it. Way to the center of Buenos Aires because there are 5 million people in the streets celebrating with the world champions. In the Núñez neighbourhood, there was an elaborate police operation trying to minimize potential damage – there was even speculation that the players could get to the stadium by helicopter if the situation warranted, but the flight was a success: they were only 40 minutes late and at 14:20 Six hours before the game, they arrived at the stadium to welcome Panama.
The stadium doors opened at 3:30 pm, by which time the blue and white colors were already invading the field. Supporters from all over the Republic arrived after paying for tickets ranging from 12,000 pesos (about 53 euros) to 49,000 pesos (about 218 euros). From an early age, she started “performances” by famous artists associated with the national team, such as DJ Fer Palacio. At around 7 p.m., the former goalkeeper of the selection runner-up in Italy 90, Sergio Goycochea, gave the “presentation” of “La T y La M”, many friends of the selection players, including Enzo Fernández, and the general mood was already a full party. At the time, Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes watched the band’s show from the center of the field, and also enjoyed the crowd singing a song, and afterwards, “Dale campeón, dale campeón!”. Minutes later, Fernando Romero, the author of the song “Muchachos”, was invited to the stage and the stadium “exploded”. The reaction was even stronger as the lights dimmed and the giant screens showed the best moments of the final against France in Qatar.
Was there a game then? Yes. The friendly match with Panama was not the biggest reason for this event, but Lionel Scaloni asked for seriousness in this new stage of selection, since the responsibility would be even greater for being the world champion. That’s why Albiceleste’s side tried to play like a world champion team, even though the appalling reception from the fans made Messi and Dibu Martinez weep with emotion.
But, eventually, the players, coaches and officials realized that the main reason for coming together was to celebrate together not only winning the World Cup, but also acknowledging the feat he achieved, such as Lionel Messi’s Best of the Year awards. Lionel Scaloni, Dipo Martinez and also to the Argentine fans who supported in Qatar and also on the streets of Argentina.
In the 17th minute, Messi hit a direct free kick that hit the left corner of Jose Guerra’s goal. “Messi, Messi,” was the response of the supporters. In the 43rd minute, Enzo Fernandez, the absolute owner of the midfield, shot from outside the penalty area and the opposing goalkeeper shone, saving the team and directing the ball into a corner. The empty player remained until the break, when Benfica’s captain, Nicolas Otamendi, was replaced by Lisandro Martínez, the central defender working for Manchester United. In 15 minutes of the second half, former Benfica fans replaced Angel Di Maria, one of the greatest icons in the history of the white team, and Enzo Fernandez, present and future of the team, and they were praised, replacing Paulo Dybala. Leandro Paredes. When the scoreboard was still zero near the end of the match, in the 32nd minute [da segunda parte]Messi hit the post and Thiago Almada opened the scoring, thus renewing the celebration at Monumental which was completed by Lionel Messi’s final goal with a free kick in the 89th minute. To cap off a magical night, the captain and his team mates offered the Qatar Cup to the fans, a moment that no one will surely forget.
Otamendi seduced by mega?
Benfica captain Nicolas Otamendi celebrated his victory in Qatar in a very special place for him, as he is a River Plate fan who has been linked in recent months with the possibility of ending his career at the Argentine club. The leaders of Millonarios, who have carried out a major redesign of the stadium, to increase the capacity to 84,000 people, are hoping to lure the experienced defender to sign with the club in June and move from Luz to Monumental. The Benfica player was only on the field in the first half, having been replaced in the first half by Lisandro Martinez.
Homecoming Enzo Fernandez
The star Enzo Fernandez, who moved from Benfica to Chelsea for 121 million euros, stopped in front of the River Plate training session, in Ezeiza, to greet his former teammates. The World Champions Gala was a great opportunity for the midfielder to get back on the pitch where it all began and where he played his last game for River. That 0-0 score, on July 6, with Velez at Monumental, meant Millonarios was eliminated early, in the Round of 16 Libertadores, and due to the player’s agreement with Benfica, he ended up traveling to Lisbon the next day. Yesterday he went home and it was in the best possible way, showing the World Cup to the fans.
By Alejandro Banfil. Buenos Aires. Argentina
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