The two reasons that united Panama and Curaçao to be Argentina’s rivals in the celebrations for the World Cup in Qatar

The Selection of Lionel Messi and of Lionel Scaloni will debut the World Cup against two minor rivals such as Panama AND Curacao. The Panamanians will also arrive without coach Thomas Christiansen and with an alternative team because on March 28 they will play against Costa Rica for the last round of the Concacaf Nations League. “For me it would be exciting to go to Argentina to face the champion, against Messi and company, but that’s not the priority. I have to think about what the priority is for us players and the Federation and it is the Nations League”released the DT.

However, Why did the AFA choose these two selected for the meeting of La Scaleneta with the Argentine public?

Two reasons appear: firstly, for the economic factor; Secondly, due to the limited availability of other casts, especially European ones, who will play the Qualifiers for the Eurocopa Germany 2024 on this FIFA date.

Neither Panama nor Curaçao attract much interest as rivalsEven if we know that the important thing will be the previous party and the reunion with the world champions. The feeling is that Argentina will struggle in both duels. The first of the matches will be at the Monumental against the Panamanians, who occupy the 61st position in the FIFA rankings; the second, in Santiago del Estero against the people of Curaçao, which is in seat number 86.

But Panama and Curaçao weren’t the only rivals available for this date. It is true that there was no possibility of calling up a European team for the Eurocup qualifiers. But some Conmebol countries were free, like the Asians and also those from the Middle East.

For example, Brazil will only play Morocco on the 25th in Tangier. Closer to home, Chile will face Paraguay on Monday the 27th. Both Uruguay and Colombia will face Japan and South Korea in Asia, and Bolivia and Venezuela will do the same against Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Peru, for its part, will travel to compete against Germany (it does not dispute the Qualifiers because it is the organizing country) and Morocco.

Curaçao is a real surprise, of course. It will be the first time that the national team will face the team from this small island which is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and has about 152,000 inhabitants, the same as the city of Tandil. The people of Curaçao’s history with football is not rich, but they were protagonists in the last World Cup qualifiers in Qatar. They dreamed of the hand of the emblematic Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, but remained at the gates of the Final of the Octagon after losing in the Second Round precisely against Panama (they lost 2-1 in the first leg and drew 0-0 in the second leg).

And the economic leg cannot be left aside. The AFA will take care of producing the two friendlies and the cachet of both rivals is very low. “It is possible that they only come for the tickets and the stay”said a man walking through the corridors of the Ezeiza property.

Thus, the AFA would save the outlay of several thousand or millions of dollars. For example, bringing the country to Bolivia could cost $100,000while the price for assume Brazil is about 2 million. Uruguay, Chile and Colombia are close to 300,000.

It is worth remembering that Scaloneta will play several matches in 2023. There will be a Fifa appointment from 12 to 25 June and the national team will close a couple of friendlies there. There is talk of the possibility of a tour of Asia, with Bangladesh as a possible rival. Then it will be the turn of the Qualifiers. He will start at home against the Ecuadorian team on 23 September this year. And that first appointment will close a few days later, visiting Bolivia. In the second window, in October, Argentina will face Paraguay, at home, and Peru, away. The 5th and 6th round of the Qualifiers, in November, is destined for the classics of the Albiceleste: first they will receive Uruguay and then they will visit Brazil.

The Scaloneta will play and it will be a historic celebration. And over time it will matter little why Panama and Curaçao were chosen as rivals.