Argentina’s last friendly ahead of the World Cup: anger at Messi, the plus that the national team will have

There is only one thing like thunder that is born little by little and ends up rumbling on all four sides of the Mohammed Bin Zayed state of Abu Dhabi: “Messi, Messi, Messi, Messi”. It is the only cry that the UAE fans come out of their desperate throats because they are being heard by the ears of the best player in the world who is preparing for the Qatar World Cup 2022 and who has arrived in the UAE for this latest friendly with the local team.

Here, in the home of the Al Jazira club, La Pulga is the only thing that mattered to the fans 90 percent were born in these lands or failing that in India. Only a few Argentines were able to access this exhibition match four days before the World Cup debut next Tuesday against Saudi Arabia in Doha.

Some have come for the World Cup, like Leandro Argüello, 38, who took advantage of it and made the hour-long flight between Qatar and the Emirates to see Scaleneta. He came with a friend, Facundo Recupero, born in forest, who stayed to enjoy the lights of Dubai. “We stop for a couple of days in each place, we move from one place to another and get by as we can,” explained Clarín Leandro, who made friends with another compatriot, Facundo, originally from San Martín, province of Buenos Aires. , who has been living in Dubai for a few months and works in a hotel.

But there are also those that have already been installed on this side of the planet for some time. Like Carla (35) who arrived 11 years ago with her ex-partner and stayed. She has now raised a family and has no plans to return. “It’s very difficult to come back because even if you miss it, the quality of life here is not comparable,” says Carla, who is with her brother Juan (27), who is a soccer coach at a Dubai academy. His girlfriend, Naiara (30 years old) accompanied him on the adventure of being encouraged to leave the country and try his luck in Arab lands. Juan will also be able to watch Argentina’s matches against Mexico and Poland at the World Cup.

In the midst of many local fans, a group of Argentines wins the preview of this friendly with songs, flags and drums. In between, he wonders what medium this special envoy works for. “Ah, from Argentina? Oops if I appear in the photos they will look for me from the AFIP and I’m up to it”, released the fan and made his way into the mass of fans. A joke? Who knows.

Inside the stadium, among some radiant white robes and turbans, the shouts towards Messi didn’t stop for a second. As the team went out to warm up, two intruders tried to enter the pitch to join them. Something similar had happened on Monday in open practice. Even the free-kick goals scored by Rosario in training were celebrated as if they were great goals from a point match.

Totally crazy about Messi, that’s how everyone stayed in the pleasant night on the shores of the Persian Gulf. An anticipation of what will be experienced in a few days in Qatar.

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Special delivery.