When the walls of the
Maracaná stadium
resounded last November with the statements of
Lionel Scaloni
, it was said, it was nothing definitive or categorical.
It was compared to that famous request for "time" that a couple can take to refocus on their common goals.
The calendar burned days, weeks and months until, last week, the world champion coach and the president of AFA,
Claudio Chiqui Tapia
, met hand in hand to agree on the best points that had been put on the table.
This Wednesday, the words of the 45-year-old coach from Santa Fe were only confirmation of those small advances that had also included his presence in the draw for the most important tournament on the continent, which this year will be played with a format similar to that of the Centenario, along to Concacaf teams.
The talks between Chiqui and Scaloni had already provided the certainty that
the Argentine National Team would return to China in the March FIFA window
, as it did on its first tour with the third star embroidered above the shield close to the heart.
It was not possible to find strong European rivals as 'Gringo' had requested, but
as in any negotiation, an intermediate point was reached
: the first opponent will be the local team itself and the second would be defined in the next few hours between Croatia - third in Qatar 2022-, Turkey, Czech Republic or Hungary, against which Lionel Messi had a frustrated debut in 2005.
In that trip to Asia in 2023, the National Team faced Australia in Beijing and Indonesia in Jakarta.
They beat both teams 2-0, but beyond football, it generated a revolution, to the point that
the concentration overflowed
into China.
In the hotels where the Argentine team stayed, guests went through the hallways "hunting" the players to take a photo.
How good it was to see you, Gringo 🤝 !!!!!!#ScalonetaModoOn 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/qyOUyik8Jk
— Chiqui Tapia (@tapiachiqui) January 15, 2024
This situation was not to Lionel Scaloni's liking.
In fact, it was one of the issues that
the coach asked to review
and that was part of the flash that exploded when the Argentine coach stated that he had to think about what he would do in the immediate future, in the press conference he gave after the victory against Brazil in Marcaná, for the South American Qualifiers, in November.
Lionel Messi had to endure the entry of several intruders during his match in Beijing.
Photo: AP / Mark Schiefelbein
But all that was left behind.
And to the certainties that Scaloni provided in his interview with an Italian television channel, information about the friendlies prior to the Copa América was added in the last few hours, just the week before the debut at the imposing Mercedes Benz Arena in Atlanta, on the 20th. June, against
Canada
or
Trinidad and Tobago
, whoever wins the play-off that will be played, precisely, on the FIFA date in March.
They say that to win in a negotiation at some point you also have to give in, and if the trip to China is the possibility of having better preparation in the run-up to the Copa América, the central objective of 2024, perhaps there is even a balance in favor .
Because the Argentine National Team, with Lionel Messi, will visit two cities that will not host either the continental tournament or the 2026 World Cup: between June 3 and 11, which is the FIFA window, it will appear at
Soldier Field in Chicago
and
FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland
.
In the 'Windy City', and according to the information published by the American site
The Athletic
, the rival would be an old known as
Ecuador
, whom they beat last September at the Monumental stadium thanks to a superb free kick executed by the captain rosarino.
Lionel Messi and the moment of the free kick to beat Ecuador.
Photo: JUAN MABROMATA / AFP
For the second game, the opponent still needs to be coordinated but it would be between
Guatemala
- which did not qualify for the competition - and
Honduras
- which at that point will already know if it passed Costa Rica in the playoffs or will have to watch the Copa América on television.
Each Albiceleste reunion will be a test for everyone.
Just as Scaloni said, it was a time of reflection, a space to refocus.
That moment has arrived: it will start in China, in March;
It will continue in the United States in June and, hopefully, will end with a full celebration on July 14 at the Hard Rock in Miami, Lionel Messi's
new promised land
.