Ezeiza, Argentina, July 15 (EFE).- Thousands of people gathered around the airport to receive the Argentina team that returned home on Tuesday to a hero’s welcome about 24 hours after they beat Colombia to win a record 16th title in the Copa America football tournament.
The team, led by coach Lionel Scaloni and winger Angel di Maria, who on Sunday played his last match with the Albiceleste, arrived at the Ministerio Pistarini International Airport after 9:30 pm.
Di Maria, who played more than 100 matches for Argentina and won Olympic gold in Beijing 2008, the Finalíssima against Italy in 2022 alongside two Copa America titles and the World Cup in 2022, received the maximum attention from fans on the team’s return to home.
Former Argentine international Javier Zanetti, fourth on the list of most appearances for the national team, who was surpassed by Di Maria only a few days ago, was at the airport to receive the American champions.
“I wrote a message to Di María because, as an Argentine, I thank him for how he represented us anywhere in the world…He deserves to have a farewell game in Argentina,” Zanetti told reporters.
One of the main absences was Lionel Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, which play in the city of Fort Lauderdale, near Miami, where the final of the 48th edition of the Copa America was played on Sunday.
Like Messi, Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and Olympique Lyon left-back Nicolas Tagliafico remain in the United States.
Three footballers—Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi, and Ajax goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli—who will join the under-23 team to compete in the Paris Olympic Games also stayed back.
Taking advantage of the winter school holidays that began on Monday, dozens of children anxiously waited for the arrival of their heroes next to a bus that said, “Welcome champions!” EFE
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