The intimacy of a Selection roast that was appreciated and ended up being a farewell

Everything was ready. The fires were lit early, when the national team was still having its first training session in Doha after arriving from Abu Dhabi, following Wednesday’s friendly with the United Arab Emirates. And the players were already licking their lips from the aroma Argentine which came out of the grids brought exclusively from the village just like the meat and which spread as evening fell through the blue and white bunker. The welcome barbecue was in progress. However, what should be a celebratory meal on the eve of the start of the World Cup it ended up being goodbye Of the two squads who were dismissed through injury: Nicola Gonzalez Y Joachim Correa.

More than a thousand kilos of different Argentine cuts They were caught in all the supplies that left Ezeiza last week, including weed, dulce de leche and other foods, and some specialty tastes like candy. But meat was the lookout for provisions. The favorite food of Lionel Scaloni and most of his coaches is a must on every tour or in every national team competition.

It was supposed to be a jubilant Thursday night, though it ended up being bittersweet with the estrangements that struck a close-knit group, who feel every loss. In addition to not being two regular titles, the tuco and González were part of this cycle and members of the Champions of America.

As for all Argentines, for the national group the barbecue represents the perfect excuse to all sit down at the same table and share a moment of encounter while enjoying the flavors of the most tender cuts. But this Thursday it was not possible to fully enjoy it because morale was not high.

Goodbyes are those sweet sorrowssays Patricio Rey and his Redonditos de Ricota. Y Lionel Messi and company shared the last dinner between Correa (he left the property at dawn) and González (he will leave in the next few hours) after confirmation from the coaching staff. Scaloni puts the goal above all else and doesn’t want to give advantages, which is why he chose to replace these two players with Angelo Correa Y Thiago Almadawho will arrive this Saturday morning from Qatar (midnight in Argentina) to join the group.

to the embers

Anyway, the grills burned and smoked beautifully at the National University of the World Cup country. In total, the delegation brought more than a thousand kilograms of meat from Argentina. Predominantly lean cut: few 300 kg of vacuum-packed, 400 kg of roast fillet, 200 kg of rump, and another 200 kg of rumpfrom.

The irons with which the chefs of the albiceleste staff grilled the first roast of the national team in Doha are also of national production and were brought and specially assembled in the University premises. Fuegos JL is the Argentinian company that emerged in 2018 and was chosen by the AFA to assemble the grills.

“It is about the Selection of our most popular sport, with the best in the world in our squad, in a World Cup that we look forward to, with all that this generates in people…. And that my products are there, with them, certainly as part of a very special moment like a barbecue, is something that really touches my heart. There is no better place for our products. If I have to withdraw from this now, that’s it”said the owner of this company, Julián Lanzillotta.

The AFA contacted more than 10 grill companies and ended up choosing this one to order four conventional models and a special one known as the Floki (a Vikings series name) which has two crosses for cooking on the post and a hanging and smoking cage. .

The fires of the national team have already been lit in Qatar. Despite the context of mixed feelings, the ritual of the inaugural barbecue has not been postponed.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.