The blow was hard. And it happened just three months ago. But fate wanted Argentina to play the Under-20 World Cup from which it had been surprisingly left out by that great frustration that was the elimination in the first phase of the South American that was played between January and February. The change of venue and having been chosen by FIFA as the host country automatically gave the classification to the blue and white team. JavierMascherano decided to reverse his resignation and the delegation has been working since Monday at the Lionel Andrés Messi de Ezeiza venue ahead of the debut, on Saturday 20 against Uzbekistan in Santiago del Estero.
Since the youth set foot in the majestic bunker of the AFA, in addition to physical and football preparation, the operation "clean slate" was launched so that precisely that hard blow suffered in Colombia does not influence this group of 21 players that is renewed.
There are nine players who made up the squad in the South American and who will now play the World Cup: Federico Gomes Gerth, Lautaro Di Lollo, Agustín Giay, Valentín Gómez, Máximo Perrone, Gino Infantino, Ignacio Maestro Puch, Alejo Véliz, Brian Aguirre.
The coach decided to add to these names those of Nicolás Cláa, Lucas Lavagnino, Tomás Avilés, Román Vega, Valentín Barco, Mateo Tanlongo, Ignacio Miramón, Federico Redondo, Valentín Carboni, Matías Soulé (will arrive this Friday), Luka Romero and Juan Gauto.
That is to say that almost half of the list is repeated. And that is why one of Masche's premises was to make it clear that the past was stepped on. "We have the opportunity to play in the World Cup and we have to take advantage of it," the coach told the kids. In turn, they have the figure of sports psychologist Juan Manuel Brindisi to reinforce from their space.
"In football, the result is not a choice, it is a consequence. We cannot afford not to be ourselves. We have an idea and there is no better possibility than to be able to represent it in a tournament like this.
Fate put us in this place and we must seize this opportunity. Our engine to motivate us in this championship must be that we play in Argentina, with our people, family and friends, "he said later, already publicly, in an interview with the ESPN channel.
"Among the players we talked about it. What happened is behind us and now we have to give our best here," Mateo Tanlongo told Clarín. The boys also chat with each other so that what several of the group experienced recently does not influence now.
The Sporting Portugal player added: "We don't take it as a rematch. It's a clean slate. What happened in the South American is already there. Now we are training in the best possible way and we start from scratch to be able to build something and reach the maximum we want."
In the same line was Alejo Véliz, who was his teammate in Rosario Central: "Personally, I don't know whether to take it as a revenge, but as another opportunity. We know very well that in the South American we were not given things, we were not lucky either. But now we think about the now and here, the day to day." And he deepened: "We did not have it in the plans to play the World Cup, but it came up. Thank God it happened and we're going to take advantage of it."
For the right back of San Lorenzo, Agustín Giay, everything changes when it comes to seeing each other again: "When we all meet here it is always something very nice. We meet again and change the chip. We try to enjoy. Most of us know each other, but there are new guys and that's why we're putting the group together."
And Federico Redondo, the midfielder of Argentinos Juniors, said before this newspaper: "What we want and what we are looking for is to be protagonists in all the matches as this shirt marks. Javier asks us to play loose, to play football."
At the same time, Redondo spoke of the locality factor, something that the coaching staff also emphasized that it must be used favorably to become strong: "Being the host country will be one more push, it will help us to have the people on our side."
Thus, the U20 National Team seeks to leave behind the ghost of the South American and mentalize in this new World objective.
Redondo and Dad Fernando's advice
Federico Redondo makes his way, without having on his shoulders the weight of being "the son of...". His father, Fernando Redondo, has a great past as a national team player, although that does not seem to influence negatively or as an extra pressure for the kid who stands out in the midfield of Argentinos Juniors.
"Much does not change me the past of my dad in the National Team. He made his career and I'm going to make mine. My dad told me that this is the most beautiful place a soccer player can be and enjoy it a lot," Federico told Clarín. And he added: "This is a very great pride. Since childhood is what one dreams. The highest aspiration you have is to play a World Cup with the shirt of the National Team and that's why I'm very happy."
Tanlongo has all the faith
Mateo Tanlongo exudes optimism and faith. Always with an expression of joy on his face, he does not hesitate to answer this newspaper: "What are we for? To be champions." It is not a statement steeped in arrogance or overconfidence; It is the feeling, desire and desire of yours and everyone.
"I missed going back to Argentina, being with my friends, drinking some mates. I wanted to be here again. Entering here is an inexplicable feeling. When I entered the grounds with my dad and my mom... It's something unique. Everyone wants to be here. I can't explain the excitement I felt when I walked in. This shield is the biggest there is," said the Funes-born who plays in Portugal.
The revenge of Agustín Giay
If the South American in Colombia was frustrating for the U20 team, for Agustín Giay it was doubly forgettable. It is that in the match with Brazil he suffered a severe sprain in his left ankle, something that left him out of competition.
That's why this new quote is special to him: "You can say that for me it's like a rematch. Yes, I take it as a rematch in my case. It is a joy to have another opportunity and nothing less than to play a World Cup that is something new for me," he told Clarín.
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