Photo Alfredo Luna.
The Argentine U-20 soccer team leaves Santiago del Estero with the goal of reaching the round of 16 of the World Cup fulfilled and also with a great display of affection from the fans.
The communion between the squad and coaching staff with the people of Santiago was demonstrated in the guards held at the hotel near Plaza Libertad and in the matches against Uzbekistan and Guatemala, which in total had 75,000 spectators.
Photo Alfredo Luna.
Santiago residents of different ages filled the Unique Mother of Cities in the two presentations by the team led by Javier Mascherano. And in the 3-0 win against Guatemala, they had “reinforcements” in the stands for a breath that had music between bass drums, drums and trumpets.
The fans in Santiago del Estero were very respectful of the players, who when the occasion called for it did not hesitate to take a photo or sign an autograph.
Photo Alfredo Luna.
In a city where the Boca Juniors shirt was seen more frequently among the people of Santiago, defender Valentín Barco was the most requested.
The “Colo”, with his talent and handful of games in the xeneize, captured the attention of the people. He even got the biggest ovation in the “applausometer” of each game played in the Mother of Cities, seconded by Valentín Carboni and Máximo Perrone.
Photo Alfredo Luna.
The Central Córdoba venue, located about 30 minutes from the city, hosted the first training sessions for Mascherano’s team, which was also attended by some enthusiastic fans.
The last practice before the clash against Guatemala took place on the field of the Miter club, which plays in the First National, where the grass looked impeccable and Mascherano was able to work without journalists obtaining clues during training behind closed doors.
Photo Alfredo Luna.
The presence of the Sub-20 did not alter the usual tranquility of the Santiago, but in each game the passion for soccer revived.
Santiago del Estero still remembers the historic visit of the Scaloneta, in the 7-0 win against Curaçao, which caused a stir in the city, on March 28. And Mascherano’s team maintained the trend that made many Argentines happy in the
“Santiago querido” that the singer Leo Dan immortalized with his 1964 hit.
The kids illuminated Santiago del Estero, the city where the sun was hidden among the clouds for days, and there may be a second part if the ticket to the quarterfinals materializes.
Photo Alfredo Luna.
