The Argentine national team will play again in China: how the negotiations between Tapia and Scaloni went for the friendly matches in March

Argentina will play in Asia again. She will go to China. It will be on the FIFA date in March. The 18th against the hosts and the 26th against a European rival to be defined. This is how this Monday ended, after the meeting between the main protagonists of this affair: the president of the AFA, Claudio Chiqui Tapiaand the coach Lionel Scaloniwho began to put together the logistics to return to the Asian country, where the Albiceleste had been in June last year, on his first tour as world champions.

On that occasion the national team faced each other Australia already in Beijing Indonesia in Jakarta. They beat both teams 2-0, but beyond football, it created a revolution, so much so that the focus turned to China. In the hotels where the Argentine team stayed, The guests walked the corridors “chasing” the players to take a photo.

This situation did not please Lionel Scaloni. In fact, it was one of the issues that the coach asked to review and which is part of the flash that exploded when the Argentine coach declared that he had to think about what he would do in the immediate future, in the press conference held after the victory against Brazil in Marcaná, for the South American qualifiers, in November.

Another issue that would have influenced Scaloni’s words would have been the rivals chosen for the tour. The DT wants more important teams, even European ones. That the sporting level has greater priority than the financial one.

There was a negotiation and a midpoint. Because Argentina will return to Asia again to face a lesser team like China. But, as far as he knew Clarion, The possibility of facing a European Championship in the second round, on 26 March, was included in the discussions between management and technical staff.

“I have to think about what to do, this national team needs a coach who has all the energy possible”Scaloni had said after the victory over Brazil and his words generated an unexpected explosion within the Argentine team. And in his next public appearance, in the Copa América draw, he maintained doubts about his future..

Then the Argentine coach would have a meeting Lionel Messi, but it was postponed due to the media fuss that was created around that meeting, while everyone spent their holidays in their places of origin. Scaloni, in Pujato and Leo, in Rosario, a few kilometers away.