Finally, the AR1915 flight of Aerolíneas Argentinas landed at the airport of Ezeiza. It was 2:23 in the morning on an Argentine Tuesday. Walk the track. Here it comes. There it stops. The door opens. And he appears Lionel Messiwith the world Cup, smiling. He is accompanied by the other Lionel, Scaloni, and the president of the AFA, Claudio Tapia. Behind come down the remaining culprits of the third star.
The world champions are in their country. Get ready Leo, Dibu, Julián, Fideo, Scaloni… Get ready. An unforgettable Tuesday awaits you. Now, at dawn, some 50,000 fans receive them. However, at noon there will be millions. They will enjoy a popular demonstration superior to the one that caressed Diego Maradona and all the champions of Mexico 1986 36 years ago. Some people with memories estimate that it will be the largest in history in this soccer-mad corner of the world.
When they got off the plane, they were greeted with the music that was set on fire at the World Cup. The group La Mosca, led by Guillermo Novellis, embraced them singing the hit ‘Muchachos…’ in its new version, the one that the players also sang in midair. ‘Boys, now all that remains is to celebrate’…
Like celebrities they already are, they walked along a red carpet to the open-top bus that was waiting for them on the track. It was time to travel the short six-kilometre journey from the airport to the AFA concentration. An exhausting trip was over, the trip they will never forget. Throughout the tour, some images of intimacy had been shared by the same protagonists on their social networks. Each one with the World Cup. Messi and the Cup, Dibu and the Cup, Tagliafico and the Cup, the president of the AFA Claudio Tapia and the Cup…
Massive reception (and media) in Ezeiza for the world champions
The bus moved slowly, at a snail’s pace. They began to breathe the love of the Argentines who awaited them with total madness. Although it was early morning, a crowd greeted them from the sides of the Riccheri highway. They shouted for Argentina. They shouted for Messi. They were screaming for Dibu. Many more were already in the surroundings of the AFA complex in Ezeiza, with blue and white smoke, with flags. Many had traveled many miles from other cities for that special reception. They were thousands and thousands.
Leo was sitting in the back of the bus, waving and smiling. Next to him, Rodrigo De Paul broadcast live with his cell phone. Leandro Paredes and Angel Di María watched. Nicolás Otamendi showed that Cup that went from hand to hand. Each one wanted to keep all those images in his memory. They all wanted to see it. They did not want to lose anything.
One hour to travel only six kilometers
The champions took almost an hour to cover those six kilometers. And as soon as they entered the concentration, they found some changes. At the entrance, a giant poster with the World Cup and two legends: above that precious trophy, the phrase “All together” and below the word “thank you”. Later, when they approached the block where they usually eat and sleep, they discovered that the façade is now different. It is painted like a huge Argentinian flag, well lit, with a huge image of Messi raising the cup and with the legend: “On this floor there is another star”. And yes, also, the three stars… And a fireworks display.
The plane of the world champions was to leave Doha on Sunday night. However, due to various delays, it only left Doha’s Hamad International Airport at three in the morning on a Qatari Monday. There was a stopover in Rome for refueling. And then yes, the final destination, Argentina. Messi and company are already in their country. And this Tuesday the best is coming, the reunion with the people who will once again take over the streets of Buenos Aires to thank them. The party doesn’t end.
From the official website of the selection it has already been announced that today at noon the champions will take a tour of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and will pass by the Obelisk, that iconic site of maximum celebration.
The convertible micro that will drive Leo and his companions “slept” last night at the Ezeiza concentration. From there, the journey will begin along the Riccheri, Dellepiane and 25 de Mayo highways. You will get off at 9 de Julio avenue, you will cross it in its entirety. It will end at Avenida del Libertador and then it will go to Avenida General Paz, to return to the Ezeiza bunker. The idea is not to stop at any point to avoid overflows. Fans are recommended to get ready in different places so that the celebration is orderly and they can observe the slow passage of the bus in order. However, since Monday night hundreds of fans were already gathered at the Obelisk…
The footballers, in principle, did not want any political photo
Of course, we will have to be attentive to last-minute changes. The National Government insists through the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Matías Lammens, for the champions to pass through the Casa Rosada and for Lionel Messi to lift the World Cup on the same balcony where Diego Maradona offered it to all Argentines in 1986.
The footballers in principle did not want any political photo. Neither with President Alberto Fernández nor with another official. In a hyper-divided country, they wanted to continue raising the banner of “All Together.” They would have been promised that they would go out to the balcony by themselves, just like Diego did 36 years ago. If so, the idea of the non-stop caravan will be broken and the Plaza de Mayo will also explode.
read also
