Lionel Scaloni has targeted FIFA for the delay in answering the call for the suspended match against Brazil. Photo: Rafael Mario Quinteros – CLARIN
109 days before the start of the World Cup in Qatar, the preparation of the Argentine national team is still unknown. The lack of definition has a reason: the TAS and the FIFA Appeals Commission did not respond to the double appeal that the AFA presented for having to resume the suspended match against Brazil in the South American qualifiers, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
This Thursday, the one who launched a new complaint was Lionel Scaloni himself, before boarding a plane to return to Europe, where he lives with his family. “The truth is that they are bothering us a bit with this problem, because we are a month and a half from that date and we do not know who we will play with and where. It is difficult to understand that FIFA does not make a decision.”he has declared.
Lionel Scaloni before an international friendly between Argentina and Estonia at the El Sadar stadium in Pamplona. Photo: EFE / Villar Lopez
“Here what we need to know is whether or not it will be played. It is a total uncertainty. We also have to take into account that afterwards we have to play another game. It is not our fault, but who has made the decision.”Shot.
Regarding that second game from the window, Scaloni explained that the range of possibilities is wide, but if they really have to play it at San Pablo, “the closest thing possible is Argentina”. “It does not depend on me. In principle it is expected, what I do not see clearly is that it is played in Brazil and with the public, it seems unusual to mebut we’ll see what happens “, pointed out the DT who has won two titles in the last year, cutting a drought that lasted 28 years.
Lionel Scaloni with the champion medal of the Grand Final in London. Photo: REUTERS / Peter Cziborra.
One of the alternatives, according to the man from Santa Fe, is a tour in the United States: “In reality, the idea was to play two games with World Cup rivals, or one against a strong rival and another less, in principle there was the North American thing, but for them it is difficult to wait for a solution. “.
If FIFA does not give rise to the Argentine claim presented to its Appeals Commission, the match must be played even if the AFA does not want it. Although the Brazilian Football Confederation can change its location until August, it has already confirmed that the chosen stadium is the same one where the suspension took place a year ago: on 22 September the Neo Química Arena in Sao Paulo, where Corinthians is local.
On 5 September 2021, members of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) of Brazil entered the field, causing the game to be suspended. Officials had attempted to arrest the four Argentines working in the Premier League for an infringement of the Coronavirus procedures in force at the time for UK residents.
Anvisa interrupted the meeting to take Emiliano Martinez, Cristiano Romero, Gio Lo Celso Y Emiliano Buendìawho had received the permission of the Conmebol and then sounded an admonition that arrived at the delegation’s hotel at noon, accusing them of falsifying the affidavit and failing to come from Great Britain. From Asunción they explained that the campus was inside a “health bubble”.
And before the World Cup? “On November 16 we could play in Abu Dhabi against United Arab Emirates With the conditions, we would like a lot of changes to be made because it is not comfortable for us to play 90 minutes, but we are interested in the weather, rival one week before the debut so that all the players play “he answered.
Lionel Scaloni and Messi aim for Qatar. Photo: Rafael Mario Quinteros – CLARIN
Does the Scaloneta continue after Qatar 2022?
In recent days, a possible offer from Claudio Chiqui Tapia for the tenure of Scaloni after the World Cup has come to light, which only happened twice in the history of the Argentine national team (César Luis Menotti after 1978 and Marcelo Bielsa after 2002).
“The reality is that we were talking with President Claudio Chiqui Tapia, there is no formal offer yet, but the relationship is good and we have talked. Today I am focused not only on the World Cup but also on the preparation and this famous match with Brazil worries us “, clarified Scaloni.
“The interesting and good thing is to continue with what started four years ago the way it started, interim and then it has become something nice. Ideally, it would be possible to continue regardless of who is there, the idea is clear. from the president, but I repeat that there was nothing formal, we’ll see later “hill.
Source: Clarin
