World Cup fever for Argentina spreads and ‘La Dakarneta’ is already appearing in Saudi Arabia

“Boys…!” Shouting and with one arm raised, it is the spontaneous greeting of every member of the camp Dakar meet an Argentinian. The popular theme of Argentinian fans during the World Cup in Qatar also seems to have had an impact outside the country and the World Cup.

The scene is repeated in every corner of the Dakar field. In the press tent, for example, there are reporters from Russia, the United States and European countries, and they greet everyone to the tune of the Moscow theme.

The World Cup fever doesn’t stop. And less here in Saudi Arabia, so close to Qatar. Argentine pilots express their passion for soccer and proudly display the world championship Obtained from Lionel Scaloni’s team.

Helmets with football designs, T-shirts, stars painted on cars, Dibu Martínez trendy dyed hairare some of the signs that are immediately noticeable at the Sea Camp, in Yanbu, on the shores of the Red Sea, where the Dakar 2023 started.

Luciano BenavidesFor example, he painted the boots white with a design alluding to the World Cup: “Celebrating Argentina’s victory in the World Cup and looking forward to racing the Dakar. I’m not a huge football fan, but every time the national team plays I become a fan, because I know very well what it’s like to represent Argentina in the world.”

And the man from Salta added:More Argentinian than ever. I am very happy with what happened and with what the country is experiencing following this victory. You feel very proud. Now comes the dakarneta”. Kevin Benavides, his brother who won the Dakar in 2021, highlighted: “What the Scaloneta has generated is crazy. There are many Argentines here and they immediately sing ‘Boys…’ I carry the flag and I’m one of the pilots representing the country. I was proud to put the Argentine flag on top. And the national team did it, representing us in the activity, in our case we are in the world championship”.

As for sport, Kevin, one of the candidates for victory on the bike in this Dakar 2023, admits it The climate of the World Cup infects the athletes: “Of course Argentina’s victory is contagious and gives strength to face the Dakar. We left the country and we represent Argentina, we know very well how it feels.” In fact, he brought an Argentine flag to display on the starting podium.

By car, the Mendoza Juan Cruz Yacopini painted the shield of the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) with the three stars together with the Argentine flag on the side of the Toyota Hilux: “It is a fundamental detail to have the three stars. I am surrounded by many French people and the accusations are permanent. They tell me that the World Cup has been stolen, but they know very well that we won it perfectly. That’s why I carry this image in the truck.”

the santa fesino Alessandro Fantoni, a quadricycle driver, traveled to Qatar to watch Argentina’s last three matches: “I planned all year to be away from home for 45 days and combined the World Cup with the Dakar. So far the trip is perfect. After the celebrations of champion Argentina, now comes the commitment to compete in this tough race”.

And he added: “I wear the colors of the national team and also that of Rosario Central, the two great passions,” said the driver from San Lorenzo, Santa Fe.

While, Nicholas Cavigliassowinner of the Dakar quad bike and current light vehicle driver, he appeared on the field with his hair dyed in the colors of Argentina, as imposed by goalkeeper Dibu Martínez. “I was training in the Nihuil area when the World Cup final was played and there I promised that if Argentina were champions, I would dye my hair. And here I am, like Dibu. The French look at me strangely, but I’m very proud,” explained the Cordovan clarion.

Manu Andújar, a rider from the city of Lobos in Buenos Aires, won the Dakar quad bike two years ago. He has always shown his passion for football, since he officially represented Boca, and stands out for the design of his helmets: “I’m happy to have won the World Cup. I had a lot of faith in him and now we are experiencing a tremendous madness. On a helmet I painted the World Cupand in the other we respect the design, but with icons, such as the images of Diego (Maradona) and Lionel (Messi), as well as the shield of Boca and the Malvinas Islands”.

Reuben Garciathe legendary Cordovan sailor accompanies the Uruguayan Patricia Pita in a light vehicle and wore an Argentinian jersey to show off at the start.

The fever of the World Cup from the hand of Scaleneta spreads in Saudi Arabia. The “Dakarneta”as the national pilots tell in this extreme adventure, it feeds the illusion of reaching the end of the competition, on January 15th in Dammam, on the eastern coast of the Arabian peninsula, and encourages the spirit to accelerate with a footballing and very Argentinian enthusiasm.

Qatar Nasser Al-Attiyah, fan no. 1 of Argentina It is known that the sympathy that Lionel Messi generates in the world crystallized during the last World Cup in Qatar. Of course after winning the World Cup, Argentina and the idol have added followers in many corners of the planet.

But there were those who have already supported Lionel Scaloni’s team in the run-up to the match outside Argentina. And one of them was the Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah, Toyota Gazoo Racing driver and candidate to win the Dakar 2023, who showed himself through social media with one more fan of the “Scaloneta”.

Al-Attiyah, a former World Rally competitor and winner of the Dakar in 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2022, also represented his country at the London 2012 Olympic Games, in Shooting, with a bronze medal. And he is a first cousin to the current Emir of Qataran affair that earns him the treatment of a sheikh.

During the World Cup, Nasser was a fan of Argentina through social networks. And as Scaloni’s team advanced in the contest, he increased his places in favor of Messi and company.

“It was the best team in the World Cup. I have always said that Messi is the best in the world and that Argentina was a candidate. And so it happened. The result made me very happy” Al-Attiyah told Clarin.

Kevin Benavides, fifth in the prologue of the Dakar

The day has finally come. The Dakar 2023 kicked off with the Prologueon a route planned next to the Sea Camp, installed in Yanbu, west of Saudi Arabia.

the salteno Kevin Benavides (KTM) was the best national representative, placing fifth, 9 seconds behind the leader, his teammate Toby Price, who clocked 8m22 to cover the initial 13km. Second was Daniel Sanders (GasGas).

Behind Kevin, his brother Luciano (Husqvarna) is in 16th place, while further back the other brothers, the Caimi: Franco 22nd, at 24 seconds, and Stefano, 55th, at one minute. The Mendoza Diego Piani he was 38th on Rieju, 41 seconds off the lead.

In quads there is already controversy. Manuel Andujar, winner of the 2021 Dakar, had been 4th, but was eventually penalized by 2 minutes for going off the track and was in last place. The Lobos driver assures that he never got lost, bearing in mind that the circuit was well defined.

The French Alex Giraud was in front, while the Argentines were like this: Pablo Copetti, 6th; Francisco Moreno Flores, 11th; Carlos Verza, 15th, and Alejandro Fantoni, 17th.

In cars, the fastest was Audi’s hybrid Markus Ekstromahead of Sebastien Loeb (Bahrain), Stephane Peterhansel (Audi) and Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota).

Among the Argentines Orly Terranova was 9th; Sebastián Halpern 17th and Juan Cruz Yacopini, 30th. Among the Side by Side, Nicolás Cavigliaso finished 7th, Jeremías González Ferioli, 8th, and Juan Manuel Silva, 16th in T4. In the T3 category, Diego Zille finished 11th.

In trucks, in the absence of the Russian Kamaz team, Martin Macik, with Iveco, dominates among the heavyweights.

The first stage will take place on Sunday, with start and finish at the Yanbu field, the Sea Camp, for a total route of 603 kilometres, 368 of which are special.

YANBU, Saudi Arabia.- Special Envoy