The camera flashes and the screams of the nearly 65,000 fans who filled the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami left this Saturday with Lionel Messi, confined to the substitute bench due to the muscle contracture that forced him to rest. But on the field, as if to rub salt into the fans’ wound, the Argentine National Team had a designated driver who is also in full retirement: Angel Di Maria. With the captain’s band on his left arm, Video He became the owner of the team, attended Lautaro Martínez in the first of his two goals and received a beautiful ovation when he gave way to Valentin Carboniin a generational crossover of the future of the Scaloneta.
He asked for it Lionel Scaloniwho this time enjoyed his team’s game from the stands, should not think about tomorrow but enjoy both Messi and Di María for what remains. In the case of the player who emerged from Rosario Central, it is, hopefully, the three matches left for Argentina to be able to defend its title.
And, at 36 years old, he’s still putting on his magician’s capeWith the essence that took him to Europe, that consecrated him in the most important teams in the world such as Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester United or Paris Saint Germain, and that now allows him to continue being decisive in Benfica of Portugal.
It was a special match for Di María, who after starting against Canada to play on the right left his place for Nicolás González in the starting eleven against Chile. So much so that he left her with her eldest daughter, Mía, hand in hand with her, the one for whom she spent many nights in the hospital to accompany her when she was born prematurely at six months of gestation.
Today with a full smile, chatted with her as she walked from one of the corners towards the central circle, before singing the Argentine National Anthem. You want to treasure moments, Angelitoand it is well deserved after the hardships he had to endure during the bad times of the National Team.
Ángel Di María leads an attack for Argentina against Edison Flores’ mark. Photo: Reuters
“I knew where the question was coming from, I was going to cut you off but it was disrespectful so I let you finish. No, what I already said remains. I hope, God willing and that he continues to help me, that I have three games left. That’s the way it is, that’s how my head is today and just enjoying every moment, the training sessions, the games, the concentration, when we have to go out with the family and share with friends. Everything, every moment I’m living to the fullest. I know that this is the last moment and I’m very happy that it is like this,” he confessed once the match was over.
He positioned himself on the left, was lively when he was able to get in front and face inwards, but he lacked a bit of conviction to convert the chance he had in a first half where the Albiceleste was the clear dominator.
“Fideo, Fideo”, stretching out the ‘e’, the fans located in the corners of the stadium shouted at him every time he was going to take a corner. Yes, as happens with Messi in every National Team match in this Copa América and anywhere in the world.
Tried to look for the place to hurtfirst on the left, then a little more centered, from where he masterfully assisted Lautaro Martínez for another collective work of art at the Scaloneta.
With the captain’s armband and the ball under control, Angel Di Maria was brilliant against Peru. Photo: AP
“Everything we do is because the coach says so. The coach is the one who watches the games and tells us where we have to be, and I think he did very well with Lautaro’s goal. At half-time he also told me to start getting a little bit inside, I listened to him and the play came just in time, I gave it to Lautaro with a touch and he could have scored the goal. I think everything they see before the games is important,” said Di María, who was the seventh Argentine player who touched the ball the most (67), with an accuracy of 77% in 52 passes.
There were 18 touches, with only two players who did not participate (Leandro Paredes and Alejandro Garnacho) and one definition of top scorer – pillory included – from the captain of Inter Milan. Great goal.
The history of the National Team has a privileged place reserved for Di María. The useful life of a footballer is not measured only by goals or titles, but by what he generates in people. AND Angelitohas been in the hearts of all Argentines for a long time.
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2024-06-30 03:02:00
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