“Being able to be in a World Cup, win it and live it up close with Messi after everything he fought for, is a source of pride. He more than deserves it because he is the best in the world and he has been showing it for a long time,” added the soccer player from Tucumán.
The ex River Plate returned to his team, Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, as world champions and as he prepares for the resumption of the Bundesliga he referred to the historic conquest in Qatar with the “Albiceleste”.
“There is no explanation, one lives it and it will be marked for life. I am privileged to have been in that place and be world champion. I still haven’t fallen,” admitted the midfielder, who played three of the seven games for the team in the world.
At 24 years old, palaces He made his World Cup debut on the second date of the group stage when he entered to play the last 22 minutes of the momentous match against Mexico.
“Of all the world I keep my debut because it will be a memory for a lifetime. Above, with my family in the stadium, something that has no explanation. Debuting in a World Cup and representing the country is something I imagined since I was a boy”, said “Pala”.
The man from Tucuman later participated in the round of 16 against Australia (11 minutes) and in the semifinal against Croatia (17 minutes).
“We did not start the world in the best way, but from above they lowered the line that we had to be calm. The team was never nervous or uncomfortable and as the games went by we became stronger,” said Palacios.
For the midfielder, one of the keys to the title was the “group” that formed lionel scaloni since the beginning of the cycle and that was reflected in the internal competition that took place during the tournament.
“For the coaching staff, no one is a starter and whoever enters has to do it in the best way. The World Cup they did makes me happy Enzo (Fernandez) and Alexis (Mac Allister) because I know them as kids and we share a lot of things”, said the man born in Famaillá but raised in the Buenos Aires town of San Martín.
Palacios was part of the cycle of scaloni from the beginning but an injury he suffered in the preview of the world It almost left it off the list.
“When you have a problem, you run from behind, but I was calm and I focused on fighting until the end. I am grateful to the coaching staff who always trusted me,” he said.
The footballer emerged in the “Millionaire” He was one of those who toured the country the most after the conquest, since he received tributes in San Martin, Tucumán, San Juan and Santiago del Esteroand was surprised by the “affection” he received from the fans.
Palacios acknowledged that this stage “is difficult” since he must focus again on the club after winning “something very big” like a World Cup, but he has the objective of “proving” that he is at the “height” of European football.
“The pressure that was experienced in the world It was very big but we took a very large backpack off of us. Likewise, this continues and we will have to show our faces everywhere because the Argentina he deserves to be on top of everything,” he said.
Palacios will begin his third year in a row at the Bundesliga at Bayer Leverkusen and he will stay at the club after a talk he had with Spanish coach Xabi Alonso, who took over ten games ago.
“The coach is counting on me and I’m focused on Leverkusen,” he said. palaceswho according to his analysis had “ups and downs” in his first European experience.
“It was difficult for me to adapt due to injuries and physical problems,” accepted the midfielder, who in the past recalled the controversial statements by the Frenchman kylian mbappe about South American football.
“European football is faster and more physical than in South America. As a national team they despised us and said that we were not facing the best but we did not play that game. It was reflected on the field that Argentina is up to the task and we can compete with anyone,” said the only World champion who will play the second stage of the bundesliga german.
Source: Ambito
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
