Lionel Messi and his Argentina compatriots will make a jubilant return to their native soil on Thursday, after they take to the sphere for his or her first match since claiming the coveted World Cup title in Qatar.
More than 1.5 million followers utilized for 63,000 accessible tickets for the match towards Central American minnows Panama on the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Football-mad Argentines have been out in even bigger numbers following the Albiceleste’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over France in December. An estimated 5 million folks thronged the streets of Buenos Aires a number of days later for the trophy parade.
Such was the multitude that the parade needed to be deserted lengthy earlier than it reached central Buenos Aires because it was already hours delayed.
Messi had been broadly anticipated to retire from worldwide soccer after the ultimate in Doha, by which he scored two targets and a shoot-out spot-kick, however the Paris Saint-Germain ahead mentioned he wished to hold on a bit longer so he may put on the blue and white Argentina jersey as a world champion.
“He is in good shape, he wants to keep coming. When he tells me that he doesn’t feel good, we’ll see. At the moment he is happy with the national team,” coach Lionel Scaloni mentioned on Tuesday.
The expectation was barely soured earlier this month when two males fired photographs at a closed grocery store belonging to the household of Messi’s spouse, earlier than leaving a menacing message aimed on the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
“Messi, we’re waiting for you. Javkin is a narco, he won’t take care of you,” mentioned the handwritten message left on the bottom, in reference to Pablo Javkin, the mayor of Messi’s hometown Rosario, round 320 kilometers north of Buenos Aires.
Messi, although, has taken all of it in his stride, as his father identified.
“I spoke to the kid and he told me: ‘Relax’,” Jorge Messi instructed reporters.
For the mayor of Rosario, it was extra of a publicity stunt than a real menace.
“What story goes more viral quickly in the world than an attack on Messi?” mentioned Javkin.
While it might circuitously have an effect on Messi, the incident did spotlight a rising drawback within the 35-year-old’s house city.
Everyone will wish to beat us
A celebration ambiance is predicted in Buenos Aires for the staff’s aggressive home-coming.
With 20,000 locations within the 83,000-capacity stadium reserved for invitees, the remaining tickets have been snapped up inside two hours of happening sale.
The least expensive price 12,000 pesos ($60) as much as 49,000 pesos ($245), which is greater than half the typical month-to-month wage within the South American nation.
Argentine soccer federation president Claudio Tapia mentioned the physique had acquired greater than 130,000 requests for media accreditation, in a stadium that has a capability for simply 344 journalists.
“We would love to be able to accommodate everyone, but we would need two stadiums, just for journalists. The madness for Argentina is total,” mentioned Tapia.
Those not fortunate sufficient to get contained in the stadium will at the very least be capable of watch the match at no cost on tv after the federal government determined to broadcast it freed from cost.
Scaloni promised them is that the staff wouldn’t relaxation on their laurels, whatever the event or opponents.
“The aim is to keep playing at the same level. Now, it will be harder than ever because everyone will want to beat us,” he mentioned.
After Thursday’s match, Argentina will play the island of Curacao on March 28 in Santiago del Estero.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
