Argentina will play again in Asia. He's going to China. It will be on the FIFA date in March. On the 18th, against the host team and on the 26th, with a European opponent to be determined. This is how it was closed this Monday, after a meeting between the main protagonists of this story: the president of the AFA, Claudio Chiqui Tapia, and the coach Lionel Scaloni, who in a meeting they held at the Ezeiza grounds, began to put together the logistics to return to the Asian country, where the Albiceleste was in June of last year. on the first tour as world champion.
On that occasion, the National Team faced Australia in Beijing and Indonesia in Jakarta. They beat both teams 2-0, but beyond football, they generated a revolution, to such an extent that the concentration overflowed in China. In the hotels where the Argentinian team stayed, guests went through the corridors "hunting" the players to take a photo.
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 said 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 at the Marcaná, for the South American Qualifiers, in November.
Another issue that would have influenced Scaloni's words was the opponents that were chosen for the tour. The coach wants teams of greater importance, including European ones. That the sporting level should be prioritized more over the financial.
There was negotiation and a middle ground. Because Argentina will return to Asia again to face a lesser team like China. But, according to Clarín, the talks between the management and the coaching staff included the possibility of playing against a European team on the second date, March 26.
"I need to think about what I'm going to do, this national team needs a coach who has all the energy possible," Scaloni had said after the win over Brazil and his words generated an unthinkable explosion within the Argentine team. And in his next public appearance, at the Copa America draw, he remained uncertain about his future.
Later, the Argentine coach was going to have a meeting with Lionel Messi, but it was postponed due to the media hype that arose around that meeting, while each spent their holidays in their places of origin. Scaloni, in Pujato and Leo, in Rosario, a few kilometres away.