Sports
Euphoric Argentines ready to party with Messi, World Cup winners
| By AFP | Barnaby Chesterman |
Thousands of Argentines began massing in the capital from dawn on Tuesday preparing to shower their World Cup heroes led by Lionel Messi with adulation.
The new world champions were due to head to the iconic Obelisk monument in central Buenos Aires in an open-top bus parade at midday (1500 GMT), the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Twitter.
And they were given a taste of what was to come when they returned home from Qatar in the early hours of Tuesday morning when tens of thousands of people lined the route from the Ezeiza international airport, where they landed at 2:40 am, to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training complex a short distance away.
“Good morning,” wrote Messi on his social media accounts, alongside a picture of him lying in bed hugging the World Cup trophy at the AFA complex, where the team spent the night.
A massive security operation has been planned with millions expected on the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate Sunday’s thrilling World Cup final victory over France.
Tuesday has been declared a public holiday for the celebrations.
Fans wearing the national team’s blue and white replica shirts and draped in flags sang, danced and set off fireworks as they began camping out at night to secure spots along the planned route.
“We will be here all night and tomorrow as well,” student Ayrton Kerdocas, 25, told AFP outside the airport while waiting for the team to arrive.
“Tomorrow we are not working, we won’t do anything and we’ll go directly to the Obelisk with Argentina.”
Argentina won the final in Qatar 4-2 on penalties after a rollercoaster 3-3 draw over 120 minutes of unparalleled drama for their first world title in 36 years.
Messi, who scored twice in the final, was the first player to emerge from the plane, holding the World Cup aloft, with coach Lionel Scaloni right behind him.
Forward Julian Alvarez, a revelation in Qatar with his four goals, was one of the next players out of the Aerolineas Argentinas Airbus A330.
A picture of Messi was emblazoned on the plane’s tail with the words: “one team, one country, one dream” on its side.
The players made their way from the plane along a red carpet straight to a white open-top bus with the words “world champions” and three stars on its side as their World Cup theme song “Muchachos” by ska band La Mosca blared.
‘Better than 86’
Excitement had been brewing since the party that began after Sunday’s final ahead of the players’ arrival.
“I came because of my passion for Argentina. I love Messi, I love the entire team,” Alejandra Diaz, 55, a kindergarten teacher told AFP outside the airport.
Welder Javier Merina, 41, said he was “a Messi fanatic” and had come to the airport to try to get the star to sign a picture.
Messi, 35, finally crowned his record-breaking career with football’s biggest prize as he produced one of the greatest World Cup final performances, scoring a first-half penalty and netting again in extra time.
In doing so he emulated his predecessor as Argentina’s idol, Diego Maradona who inspired the country to their second world title with a series of match-winning displays at Mexico 1986.
“I remember ’86 but this victory yesterday was much more emotional and much more stressful,” architect Ricardo Grunfeld, 65, told AFP.
Argentina had led 2-0 with 10 minutes of normal time left and 3-2 with only two minutes of extra-time to go but Kylian Mbappe completed only the second World Cup final hat trick in history to take the gripping final to penalties, before Gonzalo Montiel swept home the decisive spot kick.
Despite the huge numbers of revelers during Sunday’s festivities fewer than 20 people were arrested for isolated incidents of violence or theft, authorities said.
‘It warms the heart’
France’s beaten players were given a rousing reception by fans in central Paris on Monday after their return from Qatar.
They appeared on the balcony of the Crillon Hotel overlooking the Place de la Concorde.
“Frankly, it’s magnificent, it warms the heart, it’s a great pleasure to see that we were able to make so many French people proud and happy,” forward Marcus Thuram told TF1 TV.
Goalkeeper and captain Hugo Lloris told TF1 that it was a chance to “greet them (the fans), to thank them for their support and, after yesterday’s pain, to seek their consolation.”
The captivating final rounded off one of the most controversial World Cups in history in which Qatari organisers faced persistent questions about the country’s treatment of migrant workers and its laws on homosexuality.
Shortly afterwards the bus left for the AFA complex.
International
Arsenal stun Real Madrid at the Bernabéu to reach Champions League semifinals
Arsenal enjoyed a “historic night” on Wednesday after defeating Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, knocking them out of the Champions League quarterfinals, midfielder Declan Rice said.
“It’s such a special night for this club, a historic night for this club,” said Rice, who scored twice in the first leg in London, speaking to TNT Sports.
The English international was named Man of the Match in both legs — the 3-0 win in London and the second leg in Madrid.
“It’s amazing. I knew we were on an upward trajectory and we’ve done incredibly well in this competition. We deserve it and we have full confidence in our coach. Reaching the semifinals is unbelievable,” Rice added.
International
Two fans killed in gate collapse outside Chile’s Estadio Monumental
Two people lost their lives near the Estadio Monumental in Santiago, Chile, following a chaotic incident that occurred before the Copa Libertadores match between Colo Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza on April 10. According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the victims were crushed after a fence on the stadium perimeter collapsed, though authorities are investigating whether a police armored vehicle may have played a role.
It was a black Thursday at Chile’s Estadio Monumental. Two local fans died outside the stadium after a yet-unclarified incident caused a metal gate to fall on them, leading to fatal asphyxiation.
Local media reports indicate that a group of fans attempted to force their way into the stadium before kickoff. In response, local police allegedly deployed armored vehicles to block the breach.
Preliminary reports cited by local newspapers and news agencies like EFE identify the victims as two young individuals—one 18 years old and the other just 13.
Sports
Neymar Returns to Santos Training After Month-Long Injury Layoff
Neymar returned to full training on Tuesday with the Santos squad after spending a month recovering from a left thigh injury, the Brazilian club reported.
The number 10 joined warm-up activities with the team and later took part in a ball control and passing drill. According to the sports outlet Ge, he “did not show any discomfort from the injury” during the 30-minute session that was open to the press.
The Brazilian star had spent the past month undergoing physiotherapy, recovery work, and muscle strengthening due to the injury that had kept him out of Santos matches and even from the Brazilian national team. He had initially been called up, but was later withdrawn from the squad ahead of the World Cup qualifying matches against Colombia and Argentina.
Santos will continue daily training sessions this week ahead of their upcoming match against Fluminense on Sunday in the Brazilian Championship.
A magnitude 6 earthquake shakes the province of Esmeraldas in Ecuador, bordering Colombia
Preparations for Pope Francis’ funeral, in figures
“A dignified life” for migrants, the plea in Panama in memory of Pope Francis
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America4 days agoCardinal Rodríguez to Attend Funeral of Pope Francis: “He Was Very Dear to Me”
-
Central America4 days agoNicaragua’s Ortega and Murillo Mourn Pope Francis, Acknowledge ‘Difficult’ Relationship
-
International4 days agoDominican Republic Declares Three Days of Mourning for Pope Francis
-
International3 days agoPope Francis and Trump, a relationship of disagreements marked by migration
-
International4 days agoDHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Purse Stolen in D.C. Restaurant Heist
-
International2 days agoFrom the transfer of the coffin to the funeral, three days to say goodbye to Pope Francis
-
International3 days agoWithin Francis’ private wake: respect and prayer for the deceased pope
-
International4 days agoPope Francis: The Quiet Architect Behind the U.S.-Cuba Thaw
-
International3 days agoTrump’s emissary will visit Russia this week for consultations on the arrangement in Ukraine
-
International2 days agoA very heterogeneous and divided conclave will elect the new pope
-
International2 days agoModi returns to India and shortens his visit to Saudi Arabia after a deadly attack in Kashmir
-
International3 days agoCardinal Becciu’s enigma: will he enter the conclave?
-
International3 days agoThe pope last called the Gaza parish on Saturday and asked about the children
-
International3 days agoA candidate for the Supreme Court denounces an unequal dispute in the judicial election of Mexico
-
International3 days agoAmerican universities and colleges sign a letter against Trump’s policy
-
International3 days agoThe Government of Colombia presents twelve questions that it will propose in a popular consultation to promote its reforms
-
International3 days agoBurma’s military junta extends ceasefire until April 30 due to the earthquake
-
International2 days agoEl Salvador formalizes the proposal for the exchange of Venezuelan deportees, according to Bukele
-
International2 days agoMaradona’s house arrest is again a focus of tension in the trial for his death
-
International2 days agoThe Peruvian Public Ministry denounces the former attorney general for an alleged corruption case
-
International2 days agoA judge orders the Trump Government to restore Voice of America services
-
International3 days agoInternational leaders begin to confirm their presence at Pope Francis’ funeral
-
International24 hours agoThe Pope’s funeral procession through the center of Rome worries the Italian authorities
-
International2 days agoDonald Trump will visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in mid-May
-
International3 days agoRoyal quinoa, the superfood that grows in front of the largest salt flat in the world in Bolivia
-
International1 day agoThe Arab League supports Hamas handing over control of Gaza and weapons to the Palestinian Authority
-
International3 days agoChurch charges ceased or resigned in the papacy of Francis for cases of pedophilia
-
International2 days agoThe president of the World Bank underlines his intention to lift his veto on nuclear energy
-
International4 hours ago“A dignified life” for migrants, the plea in Panama in memory of Pope Francis
-
International1 day agoMigrants want to stay on Mexico’s southern border because of Sheinbaum’s industrial plan
-
International24 hours agoA group of the poor and a delegation of migrants will participate in the funeral and burial of the pope on Saturday
-
International2 days agoMarco Rubio reorganizes the State Department to eliminate offices and jobs
-
International1 day agoThe pope’s doctor reveals his last moments of life and that he wanted to “die at home”
-
International4 hours agoA Russian general dies in the explosion of a car bomb near Moscow
-
International2 days agoThe Brazilian Supreme Court opens trial against six others accused of leading the coup attempt
-
International1 day agoFrom email to marriage: the day Pope Francis married a Uruguayan couple
-
International2 days agoA judge in the United States stops the deportation to El Salvador of a hundred Venezuelans
-
International4 hours agoA magnitude 6 earthquake shakes the province of Esmeraldas in Ecuador, bordering Colombia
-
International5 hours agoPutin and Witkoff address possible direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine
-
International5 hours agoPope Francis’ funeral procession will be a six-kilometer journey through the heart of Rome