Key meeting between Scaloni and Tapia in Miami

The previous incidents in which Argentine fans were beaten by the Rio de Janeiro police also went to the background, which caused the entire Argentine team to come out in their defense and then retreat to the locker rooms as a sign of repudiation, putting at risk the very holding of the meeting.

The round of questions to Pujato’s Santa Fe coach had finished when he wanted to add something else, a very strange circumstance to any press conferenceand especially on that occasion when they were all roses and the year ended definitively without thorns and with more buds than before.

That addition was a “bomb” journalistic that broke out before the not very numerous Argentine media present in the place, since Scaloni said that he wanted to “think a lot” about what he was going to do in 2024, “because the bar of this team is above everything and it is very difficult to continue winning everything that lies ahead.”

He then expressed that whatever decision he was going to make (and which obviously could not be other than an unexpected resignation), “of course” he was going to make it. “inform the president of AFA”, making it clear that Tapia was not aware of the situation. Or maybe yes, because Scaloni did not allow cross-examination after that revelation. He got up and left.

Since then, he only made a brief appearance in the program of the great former Italian goalscorer. Christian Vieri“Bobo TV”, such is the nickname of the former forward who is currently 50 years old, but he did not refer to the subject nor was he questioned about it.

However, different topics arose from different sources that would have caused this declaration of Scaloni, and that do not specifically have to do with the high demands of the world champions, but rather with internal issues that range from economic to organizational and extend to promotional issues.

Hence the reunion of Scaloni and Wall in Miami it promises to be extensive, because after Brazil they will only see each other again tomorrow, after the dinner they will share at the hotel that Conmebol reserved for all those attending the draw on Thursday at 9:30 p.m. (in Argentina).

Surely even the result of the draw will take a backseat if one of the two, or both, first have something to communicate regarding what was discussed on Wednesday night, and the conclusions reached from that meeting.

It will be kind and desired news if continuity is ratified, and quite the opposite if Scaloni decides to step aside after this. America Cupto whom he will obviously say present from what is clear from his presence in the draw the day after tomorrow representing the national team together with the physical trainer Luis Martinwho will then remain in the United States observing training centers.

Precisely when it comes to training centers, next month the AFA Work will begin on one that will be built in Miami, where the mother house of Argentine soccer already has an administrative office installed.

It is estimated that the construction will last, according to the construction project, for a year and a half, and will be ready for the World Cup of United States-Mexico-Canada 2026.

In fact, for this Copa América the Argentine team will be based in Miami, where ties with Lionel Messi and his team, the local Inter, will allow him to go through the concentration of more than three weeks in an atmosphere of absolute familiarity.

Argentina will play the opening match of the Copa América on June 20 at the Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta, when Gerardo Martino He was the coach of United Local.

The second game of the group stage will be played on the 25th at the Met Life, in New Jersey, and the third and last game will be played at “home”, on the 29th at the Miami Garden.

Then, if they advance to the next round they will face the quarterfinals in Texas, on July 4 in Arlington if they are second in their area or on July 5 in Houston if they are first.

Then, if it reaches the semifinals, there are also two possible dates, which are July 9 again in New Jersey or July 10 at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, which will be the scene of the third-place match.

And the ideal final for Argentina, It will take place on Sunday the 14th at its home venue, the Miami Center. Only on that occasion, according to previous estimates, could it cross paths with Brazil.

A record participation of 16 teams: Argentina, Brazil, United States, Mexico; Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; Jamaica, Panama and those that arise from the crossings between Canada – Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica (with the technical direction of Gustavo Alfaro) – Honduras and 14 venues, will frame a Copa América that promises to be even brighter than the 2016 Centennial.

But to get there with Scaloni in the technical direction, and with two friendlies in March probably also in the United States, Wall He already tried to shorten the distance and in the last few hours he contacted the coach’s representative, Matías Salord, probably thinking about adding “less salt” to tomorrow’s dinner.