1 Arrive in Sapporo
1 Arrive in Sapporo
When Leon, Ortega, and Cambiasso's three "River Plate Gang" players arrived in Sapporo, Japan, the Argentine national team also sent a special car to pick them up and join the national team. //
Leon and the others didn't know that, in fact, the lunatic Bielsa had already selected Argentina's 23-man roster for the World Cup.
Leon changed history, because of his outstanding performance in the Argentine League and the South American Copa Libertadores, Cambiasso, who is still a "teenage player", was selected together with him in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. Argentina's 23-man squad .
Leon replaced Hussein and Cambiasso replaced Kiley Gonzalez, who was injured before the World Cup...
So far, Argentina's 23-man roster for the World Cup in Korea and Japan is as follows:
1 Gilman Boggs (gk)
2 Roberto Fabian Ayala
3 Juan Sorin
4 Pochettino
5 Mathias Almeida
6 Samuel
7 Claudio Lopez
8 Javier Zanetti
9 Batistuta
10 Ariel Ortega
11 Juan Sebastian Veron
12 Pablo Caballero (gk)
13 Placent
14 Simeone
15 Lionwell
16 Pablo Aimar
17 Gustavo Lopez
18 Cambiasso
19 Crespo
20 Gallardo
21 Caniggia
22 Chamotte
23 Roberto Bonano (gk)
According to Bielsa's schedule, the Argentine national team will play a friendly match against Côte d'Ivoire on the 29th in order to learn some information about its opponent Nigeria in the group match. Côte d'Ivoire, whose style is similar to Nigeria, will be Argentina's penultimate warm-up opponent before the World Cup.
Argentina's second warm-up match is a game against Russia on June 1. After these two warm-up matches, Argentina will prepare for the World Cup group stage.
Group of Death! Alas, as long as he sees the opponents in the group stage of Japan and South Korea, Leon will feel resentful now.
...
"Camby, Leon, you are all rookies in the national team anyway, so I will introduce you to the teammates of the national team in a while, don't worry, as long as you are River Plate players, then don't be afraid of being caught in the national team." Bullying!" Sitting in the special car of the Argentine national team, Ortega said to the two rookies of the national team, Cambiasso and Leon.
Leon and Camby didn't know the meaning of what Ortega said, as long as you are River Plate players, don't be afraid of being bullied in the national team...
But soon, when they arrived at Argentina's five-star hotel in Sapporo, Leon knew why Ortega said that.
"Now we finally have a complete lineup." When Bielsa saw Leonwell and Cambiasso appearing in front of him in good spirits, he smiled and said to Leon and Camby.
As for Ortega? He and Bielsa are old acquaintances...
And just after Leon and Camby had just packed their luggage, Bielsa also took advantage of the lunch opportunity to gather all the national team players together.
Ortega also took the opportunity to pull the two big rookies Leon and Camby into the crowd.
"Hey, guys, I think you all know about our new teammate! It's a pity that Gonzalez is so unlucky that he got injured, alas." As the three-dynasty veteran of the Argentine national team, Ott Jia's status in the national team's locker room is beyond doubt.
Soon, he introduced Leon and Camby to their national team teammates one by one.
"This is Boggs, our main goalkeeper!" Ortega patted Boggs on the shoulder with a smile.
The Argentine national team also looked at the two newcomers with a smile: "You played very well in the final in South America. It's a pleasure to meet you, Leon and Esteban."
"This is Ayala! Leon, Ayala is your senior!" Ortega said after hugging his old friend Ayala with a smile.
Ayala smiled and gave Leon and Cambiasso a thumbs up: "Leonville, although I am far away in Spain, I have already heard your name, the final is very beautiful! I am very happy Looking forward to your performance."
Next, Ortega introduced Sorin, Mathias Almeida, Placente and others...
"Okay, Ariel! No need for an introduction! I know Leon! Oh, what a pity, Gallardo, you said it would be nice for us to leave River Plate a season later, so that we can witness the most glorious moments of the River Plate team with them Already!" As an important member of the Argentine national team, Aimar, the handsome Argentine, went straight up and punched Leon and Cambiasso.
This flattered Leon and Cambiasso...
At this time, Aimar also whispered to Leon: "Don't worry about Leon, because there are 14 players in our national team who have played for River Plate, so you will be very happy getting along with everyone!"
Fourteen? Leon widened his eyes!
At this time, Caniggia, the former Argentine son of the wind, also came over and hugged Leonwell and Cambiasso.
Of course, not everyone gave Leon a good face...
For example, the wizard Veron who became famous in Boca, he simply greeted Leon.
This Argentine national team is not so much the Argentine national team, it is better to say that it is the River Plate All-Star team in the 90s!
Crespo, Aimar, Gallardo, Caniggia, Bonano, Placente, Almeida, Sorin, Ayala...
This living former riverbed superstar gathered together!
No wonder Ortega said that Leonwell and Cambiasso's status as river plate players can quickly integrate them into the national team!
Is not this nonsensical! Everyone plays the same style of football, so it's strange if you don't integrate quickly!
"Lionwell, nice to meet you." Just when Leon was still surprised, Javier Zanetti also came over and hugged him.
Although Zanetti was not born in River Plate, he is very popular, and he is also an important figure in the Argentine national team, so he has an extraordinary right to speak in the national team's locker room.
Batty, the god of war, also had a pretty good first impression of himself. Leon knew he was a newcomer, a rookie, so he didn't show too proud and arrogant during lunch, not to mention Cambiasso, he He is a model of a professional player who will not easily conflict with his teammates.
During lunch, Leon also noticed the unrest in the Argentine national team.
Absolutely not peaceful!
Because Leon discovered a big problem with the Argentine national team!
There are as many as fourteen players who have played for the River Plate team, but only Ayala, Sorin, and Ortega are the absolute main players!
What does this mean? This shows that although the "River Plate Gang" has a large number of people, Bielsa reuses players from other teams.
This problem seems to be nothing, but once Argentina's performance is not good, civil strife will soon come.
Why did Veron react to himself so-so? Because Veron may not have the heart of Batty, Leonwell is the public enemy of Boca!
Even if it is said that Veron has a general feeling for Boca, but think about it, seeing Leonwell, a river plate rookie, is so arrogant to the team he used to play for, as long as this person has a normal heart, he will be very enthusiastic about Leon. !
The Argentine national team has always been divided into two factions, River Plate and Boca! Argentina has also been lacking a real leader on the field since Maradona.
For example, in this World Cup in history, Argentina used three different captains in the three group matches.
No wonder it's not chaotic!
Without a leader, it means that veteran players are qualified to be leaders.
And if this leader is not the River Plate player with the largest number of Argentine national team players, can there be no chaos?
Fourteen former or active River Plate players, this proportion is too unbalanced!
At this time, Leon suddenly remembered that Bielsa's real reuse of Aimar was in the life-and-death battle in the Argentine group stage. In 2002, the most wrong person Bielsa used was undoubtedly Veron...
This guy has been in a bad state since he went to Manchester United, and Aimar was at the peak of his career at that time, but Bielsa had to use Veron...
Because of status, Veron's status is not comparable to that of Aimar.
Bielsa is not a qualified manager, he is a good coach, but management is not what he is best at.
The Argentine team had a smooth sailing in the qualifiers, so the national team was calm.
But once Argentina encounters an accident in the World Cup, all the hidden dangers of the national team will explode.
In the final analysis, this team lacks a real leader!
No one obeys anyone! This Argentina is definitely not as good as his appearance.
After lunch, Bielsa also said in the restaurant: "We are going to have a meeting with the media this afternoon, Aimar, Leon and Placente, the three of you can go with me, by the way we also To announce our World Cup uniforms."
As the three most handsome men in the Argentine national team, Bielsa's decision was not a problem...
But Leon saw from the corner of his eye that when Bielsa announced his name, the wizard Veron turned his head away.
Argentina is not a river plate. During this lunch, Leon suddenly felt that this trip to the World Cup might not be as smooth as he imagined!
"Hey, buddy, what's the matter? Let's get ready, let's go to the press conference with the boss." Aimar's heart is not as careful as Leon's. It's no wonder Aimar, the atmosphere in the Argentine team is very tense now. Not bad, the paradox did not spark.
But Leon knew that Argentina would be out of this World Cup! So when he found all kinds of clues, he had to think more about things that Aimar couldn't think of.
...
At the press conference in the afternoon, Bielsa first announced the roster of the Argentine national team to the media, followed by Aimar, Placente and Leonwell to show everyone the jersey of the Argentine national team for the World Cup.
Both Aimar and Placente took good care of Leonwell, after all, to them, Leon was their little brother.
And the handsome Lionwell has also attracted the attention of many reporters. Everyone knows that this is the first talent in Argentina now...
And he is the top scorer and player of the Copa Libertadores this season!
"It really deserves to be the favorite to win the championship! I'm afraid such a genius is just feeling the atmosphere of the World Cup in the team!" Many reporters began to feel emotional.
"That's right! If our country had such players, they would have already been established as the core!" said a reporter from a small football country.
Champion looks, yes, the Argentine did show a champion look.
This is a championship-caliber team with a lot of experience and just the right age.
However, on the first day of arriving in Sapporo, Japan, Leon felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.
This feeling makes him feel very bad...
...
...