Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates will make a triumphant return in their homeland on Thursday after they play their first match since profitable the World Cup in Qatar.
More than 1.5 million followers utilized for 63,000 accessible tickets for the match in opposition to Central American minnows Panama on the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.
Football-mad Argentines had been out in even bigger numbers following the Albiceleste’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over France in December. An estimated 5 million individuals thronged the streets of Buenos Aires just a few days later for the trophy parade.
ALSO READ|Euro 2024 Qualifying: Roberto Martinez on the Helm for Portugal, Ronald Koeman Returns for The Dutch
Such was the multitude that the parade had to be deserted lengthy earlier than it reached central Buenos Aires as it was already hours not on time.
Messi had been extensively anticipated to retire from worldwide soccer after the ultimate in Doha, in which he scored two targets and a shoot-out spot-kick, however the Paris Saint-Germain ahead mentioned he needed to stick with it a bit longer so he might put on the blue and white Argentina jersey as a world champion.
“He is in fine condition, he needs to maintain coming. When he tells me that he doesn’t really feel good, we’ll see,” coach Lionel Scaloni said on Tuesday.
“At the moment he is happy with the national team.”
The expectation was barely soured earlier this month when two males fired pictures 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 ready for you. Javkin is a narco, he received’t deal with you,” said the handwritten message left on the ground, in reference to Pablo Javkin, the mayor of Messi’s hometown Rosario, around 320 kilometers north of Buenos Aires.
Messi, though, has taken it all in his stride, as his father pointed out.
“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 extra rapidly viral in the world than an assault on Messi?” said Javkin.
While it may not directly affect Messi, the incident did highlight a growing problem in the 35-year-old’s home town.
Rosario is a port city on the Parana river that has gradually become a nerve center for drug trafficking and the most violent city in Argentina, with 287 murders in 2022.
Target on the back
A party atmosphere is expected in Buenos Aires for the team’s competitive homecoming.
With 20,000 places in the 83,000-capacity stadium reserved for invitees, the remaining tickets were snapped up within two hours of going on sale.
The cheapest cost 12,000 pesos ($60) up to 49,000 pesos ($245), which is more than half the average monthly salary in the South American country.
Argentine football federation president Claudio Tapia said the body had received more than 130,000 requests for media accreditation, in a stadium that has capacity for just 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 have the option to watch the match at no cost on tv after the federal government determined to broadcast it freely.
Scaloni promised them is that the crew wouldn’t relaxation on their laurels, whatever the event or opponents.
“The intention is to maintain enjoying on the identical degree,” he said.
“Now, it will be harder than ever because everyone will want to beat us.”
After Thursday’s match, Argentina will play the island of Curacao on Match 28 in Santiago del Estero.
Read all of the Latest Sports News right here
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
