They came in large numbers to acclaim them. Thousands of supporters massed near the airport welcomed the football world champions, who arrived Monday evening on Argentine soil. A communion is expected in the streets of Buenos Aires on Tuesday, December 20, declared a holiday.
The players immediately boarded a white double-decker bus, flocked with three stars and the “campeon del mundo”, to go to rest at the nearby training center of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Along the way, the players were cheered on by several thousand supporters eager to be the first to salute the heroes of an entire people and finally see the golden trophy they had been hoping for for so many years.
An impressive cordon of uniformed police deployed every 2 or 3 meters guarded the perimeter wall of the AFA complex to prevent any overflow. Many police officers were also in place to ensure a quick trip between the airport and AFA. In 2021, on the return from the Copa America victory in Brazil, the bus had taken four hours to cover these few kilometers. It was out of the question this time.
In Argentina, the climax is expected around midday for a large loop in downtown Buenos Aires, from the AFA, “to celebrate the world title with the fans”announced in a tweet the “Seleccion”.
El plantel CAMPEÓN DEL MUNDO ? will leave the martes al mediodía hacia el obelisco para festejar el título mundial con… https://t.co/cWeAmum8BY
“Eternal Glory”
The government declared this Tuesday a holiday, thus authorizing a gigantic crowd, which should once again happily exceed one million, to cheer the return of the heroes of Lionel Scaloni. On board the double-decker bus, the now Argentine “tri-campeones” will pass by the Obelisk, in the heart of the capital, the center of the celebrations which took place on Sunday after the title.
An unknown remained on their passage or not on the balcony of the presidential palace, the Casa Rosada. Maradona in 1986 appeared there with the trophy. An image that remains in the memories. Many feel that Messi should follow in Maradona’s footsteps and do the same.
Because this third star for the Albiceleste, after that of the team of Daniel Passarella (1978) then that of Diego Maradona (1986), bears the mark of Messi, named best player of the tournament. “Eternal Glory”, “Thank you, Messi”, ” World champions ! » or just ” Thank you ! » headlined the Argentine dailies on Monday, many of which produced special editions.
Meanwhile in Paris, the players of the French team, unfortunate heroes of the final, were cheered by 50,000 supporters on the Place de la Concorde on their return from Qatar, in an atmosphere of fervor. The players appeared on the balcony of the Hôtel de Crillon to the cheers of fans, mostly very young, who waved tricolor flags and chanted “Thank you Blues! » and singing the Marseillaise or the Gala song “Freed From Desire”which became the anthem of the Blues during the World Cup.