Lionel Messi: “We are not aware of what it means to be World champions”

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March 27, 2023

Lionel Messi and the Argentina national team were given a tribute by CONMEBOL and the Best player in the World spoke about everything they have lived.

Messi was in attendance as the Argentina national team were honored by CONMEBOL in a tribute which included a song by La Sole to the team. Speaking at the tribute, here is what Messi had to say:

“Thank you very much Alejandro for these two cups that we had talked about, especially this one (Messi touches the World Cup). I’m going to keep this Cup in the museum. Thank you to you, Alejandro Domínguez and to CONMEBOL for this tribute to all of us.

“The gift that Sole gave me just now was very touching. The song is very meaningful for us in the locker room, it is a very special song that we listened to and the fact that sole is here and sings it to us reminded me, as she said, of that moment when she sang it to Diego (Maradona). That she sang it to me, that she sang it to us was a very nice moment, so thank you very much.

“As I said the other day, we are living a very nice, very special moment. We were fortunate to play in Argentina for the first time after having been World champions and we are receiving a lot of love.

“We came back many times to play in qualifiers, friendlies, competitions, but this time, obviously, after being champions was different to all of us and that is how we all feel and that is how the people of Argentina show it to us all the time.

“As you (Alejandro Domínguez), Chiqui (Tapia) and Leo (Scaloni) were saying, many people in the world were happy for us, for me, for being world champions and for bringing the Cup back to South America. It was about time that a South American team became World champions again.

“That last thing I would like to say is I think beyond all the affection we are receiving after being World champions, that we were receiving before in this group, for this recognition, for the signs of affection, I think we are still not really aware of what it means to be World champions.

“We think about what is coming and not about what we have done, I think this is for life. Here, I saw many World champions that told us that, that it surely happens to them too, that even today they are recognised and they don’t even remember the moments when they were World champions. I am full with this (Messi caresses the World Cup), it was the one I was missing.

“Thank God I was able to achieve everything in football, I thank all of my team mates for these beautiful gifts they gave me. The coaching staff, Chiqui (Tapia), was always by out side for everything we needed and we were always in the best way. Now I have to enjoy what I have left, which I don’t know how long it will be and enjoy what I have always done as I have done throughout my career. I am fulfilled with this one, it is the one I was missing.”

Lionel Scaloni on Argentina support: “South America was behind it”

By

Roy Nemer

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March 27, 2023

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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni was honored by CONMEBOL as he thanked every one for their support.

Lionel Scaloni and the Argentina national team were present in Paraguay as they were honored by CONMEBOL for winning the Copa America, Finalissima and World Cup. The Best coach in the world had this to say:

“Thank you for the gift, I thank those who are here because without them, this would not have been possible. The football is theirs, we are coaches because we can’t play football anymore. It’s the only truth. I would love to be where they are.

“We try to provide them with what we believe they need so that they can express their football. Argentina wasn’t just Argentina. It was all of South America that was behind it. This national team infected a lot of people with their desire to play and win. That Brazilians were happy for us shows what this national team achieved.”

Claudio Tapia receives South American honor by CONMEBOL

By

Roy Nemer

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March 27, 2023

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Claudio Tapia was honored by CONMEBOL as the AFA president was given the South American Football Order of Honor.

Tapia and the entire Argentina national team were present in Paraguay as CONMEBOL honored them for their achievements. They were all present at CONMEBOL’s “Noche de las Estrellas” or “Night of the stars” as CONMEBOL honored the World Cup champions. The AFA president spoke to every one in attendance, here is what he had to say:

“Many thanks to everyone for this honor. To our players, our coaching staff and every one of them. No doubt, it is always in adversity where you can see the character, where you can see the personality, it’s where men emerge.

“And these boys, with a lot of manhood, gave us the joy that I think we have all dreamed of, that we all hoped for and that many Argentine’s all around the world and also so many people who longed for and wanted the Argentina national teams to be world champions.

“This was achieved by you and I believe that credit also goes to our coaching staff. To all the coaching staff, in just five years they have achieved titles in youth and senior national teams. It’s the result of the work they do with the AFA’s national team project.

“This award has a lot of value. But it is really the value of all our players that gave us the possibility to feel the best in the world. And to to be able to celebrate because South America had not achieved it for a long time, because the last five, six World Cups belonged to the Europeans.

“Many congratulations to every one who works in the AFA, to each one of those who accompany our different national teams and especially to these players and to the number 10, the best player in the world.”

Prior to receiving the award, CONMEBOL president Alejandro Domínguez had this to say about the AFA president:

“In terms of management, Argentina was an orphan. Since 2016, the only person who didn’t give up was Claudio Tapia. I asked him to come closer and be with the players. He generated a different, close leadership and with determination.”

Emiliano Dibu Martínez: “Penalties are my time to disconnect”

By

Roy Nemer

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March 27, 2023

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Emiliano Dibu Martínez spoke about his career with the Argentina national team and the penalty kicks at the World Cup.

Dibu Martínez has won everything there is to win with the Argentina national team. And he still has his eyes set for more. The Best goalkeeper in the world gave an interview to AFA Estudio where he spoke about a number of topics. Here is what he had to say about his career with Argentina:

“I want to continue leaving a legacy in the national team. I have only played 23 matches. I want to give the boys the illusion and the desire to see me. It makes me more proud to see them happy tha being World champion.

Martínez also spoke about the World Cup and the penalty kicks:

“I started crying in the locker room before the World Cup final. I told the boys that I was proud and that whatever happens, I was going to give my life in that match, that I was going to give everything for them until I’m injured.

“Penalties are my time to disconnect, to have fun. I don’t take it as pressure, I take it as fun. I use the pressure of the kicker in my favor.

“I know Van Dijk from Liverpool. I saw him kick across high twice. I stretched so much that I injured my hip. It still hurts.”

Argentina FA reportedly offer to host 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup

By

Roy Nemer

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March 26, 2023

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Argentina have offered to host the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup should it not be held in Indonesia.

The 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup is set to be held in Indonesia but due to political issues, there are now reports that it could be held elsewhere. FIFA already suspended the draw for the tournament, which was originally supposed to be held on Sunday.

And now it appears as though the AFA have offered to host it. According to DobleAmarilla, the AFA have offered to host the tournament and should it be held in Argentina, it would mean that as hosts, they will be at the tournament.

South American qualification for the FIFA U20 World Cup was held back in January but the team failed to qualify for the tournament.