The calm before the storm: this is how Argentina prepares for the World Cup final Israel today

A cry of "This is it, disperse please, training is over", pierced the air like a knife.

The hundreds of journalists in Argentina's training complex waited patiently for one moment, and that moment did not come in the 15 minutes in which it was possible to take pictures.

Leo Messi, the hero of the semi-final against Croatia and the man everyone wanted to see, did not come out of the dressing room onto the pitch.

Not even for a walk, not even to smell the grass.

It turns out that the first practice after Croatia and the first of three before the final against France on Sunday was a release practice, one in which only the substitute players take part.

Many of the team's players were there - for example, Nico Otamendi, Andrew Paredes and Julián Alvarez - but they just sat on the sidelines and watched what was happening.

Rodrigo de Paul, Enso Fernandez and Cristian Romero were nowhere to be seen, and neither was Leo Messi.

According to the reports, all the Argentinians are fit, even Angel Di Maria did train, but it turns out that after a rest day that included a good asado, the Argentinians need to rest a little more.

In the absence of number 10, there was a need to look for attractions, and with perfect timing, the Argentinian Sergio "Con" Aguero came out of the dressing room.

He was dressed in full training gear, sat on the bench next to coach Lionel Scoloni and was responsible for morale and mood.

"He doesn't have an official role here, but he is an integral part of this team," explained journalist Gaston Hirschbrand, "he enters all the training sessions and is with the team all the time."

Sometimes it seems that Aguero immediately enters the field and trains with everyone, but he can no longer.

Lou Celso with Messi, tonight, photo: Getty Images

He also got Chelsea in Qatar

Exactly one year ago yesterday, on 15.12.2021, he called a press conference in which he announced his retirement from playing due to heart problems.

He had every reason to distance himself from the event, but he arrived in Qatar and accompanies his friends every step of the way.

He was there in the stormy finish against the Netherlands, after the victory against Croatia and in every training session.

Beyond him, the injured Giovanni Lo Celso also joined the team this week, and this combination is one of the factors of success.

As Hirschbrand explained: "For Scaloni, it is important that everyone who was part of the process be in Qatar during the decision-making stages."

After Aguero, or maybe even before him, Sofia Martins was the biggest attraction in this training.

The ESPN Argentina reporter became like this after the semi-final victory over Croatia, when she stood up to Leo Messi in the interview position and moved him with a personal monologue.

"I want to tell you that no matter what happens in the final, no one will take away from you the fact that you have touched all Argentines, all of them. There is no child in the country who does not wear your shirt - real, fake or imaginary - and it is important that you know that you affected everyone's life. And, In my opinion, it's more important than winning the World Cup."

Hoffman with Martins, yesterday in Qatar,

Following this text, Sofia became a sought-after interviewee and the number 1 selfie address in training.

So I also approached her.

"I wanted to tell you that you spoke on behalf of many Argentines all over the world, and in Israel as well," I told her, "but I wanted to know what Messi said when you finished the monologue because they cut the interview at that point."

Sofia said thank you and then said: "Messi told me that he feels this love and that it moves him very much; that he feels that the Argentines cherish the process and learn to enjoy what is happening with this team regardless of the results."

I thanked her, and then she said: "And still, I really hope we won't have to settle for the process and the road this time."

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