Alejo Véliz has the goal in his veins. It comes out through the pores. And having managed to score in last Saturday's debut against Uzbekistan (he scored the provisional draw of the 2-1 final) made him sigh of relief. The lungo of Rosario Central wants to be the center-forward that this Argentina U20 team needs to go far in this youth World Cup. And he knows he started off on the right foot.
"For strikers it's always nice to score goals, it gives us confidence. The ball didn't just fall anymore, ha. I had a bit of luck, but I hope it stays that way," explains the 19-year-old attacker, who has 14 goals in 53 appearances with the Canalla shirt, in total. Now he began to shout in blue and white after not being able to convert in the four duels he played in the South American.
"I'm coming from a very nice moment at my club. The sum of minutes gives you confidence and hopefully what I did at the club I can continue doing here. God gave me this other opportunity in the National Team and I'm going to take advantage of it in the best way," the native of Bernardo de Irigoyen, a small town located almost a hundred kilometers from Rosario, assures Clarín. His grandfather was in charge of taking him and bringing him weekly to training. And all that effort paid off.
Alejo Véliz scored Argentina's first against Uzbekistan, with a header. Photo: Juano Tesone, special envoy
Gone are his days of purrete with boots and gaucho clothing with which he showed off dancing malambo on some other stage. Football captivated him and there was no room for other activities. His upward path aboard booties does not stop and the next goal is to consecrate himself in this World Cup in the country.
"It was key to draw fast. But we had the feeling that we weren't going to lose the game. We never thought that. We always went forward. We knew at times that at times it was going to be hard and that we were going to suffer", analyzes what was the triumph against the Uzbeks.
He adds: "Making our game and with our idea, but we had to start on the right foot. It was our first match in the World Cup and we knew it was going to be difficult because there were many sensations together, a very tough opponent and a very heavy court because of the rain. But we knew how to carry it forward."
The prize was to have been able to celebrate in a stadium Unique Mother of Cities overflowing with Argentine breath. "It was very nice to see all the people in the stadium. Javier (Mascherano) told us that we have to take advantage of all this. A very nice group was put together and we are enjoying it to the fullest. This World Cup was something that was not in our plans, it was unthinkable because of how things had happened, but we want to take advantage of it," he says.
The first step was taken. This Tuesday it is time to go out again to the field to try to get the qualification to the eighth, against New Zealand. And there will be Alejo Véliz, trying to tap in the box to give more goals to Argentina, dreaming of emulating Lionel Messi, Sergio Kun Agüero and Javier Saviola as top scorers in a youth World Cup before making a career in Europe.
Santiago del Estero. Special envoy.
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