Hear
ATLANTA.- (Special envoy) “Leo, Leo!” were the first cries of the people -mostly Central and South Americans but few Argentines- when they saw after 5:20 in the afternoon – an hour less than in Argentina -, the departure of the team from the hotel to begin its first practice in Atlanta, where on Thursday it will debut against Canada in search of retaining the title of continental champion.
To avoid blocking traffic on the main avenue, as happened on Saturday with the arrival of the Argentine delegation, this time the authorities made Messi and company leave through one of the side streets, in front of the Hard Rock.
Di María, Otamendi, “Dibu” Martínez were part of the first faces to come out to get on the bus in front of a group of followers and other occasional spectators who discovered at the moment what was happening in the place.
With 35 degrees of heat, and in two groups, the team and also the leadership came out. Much of the United States began a heat wave today that will last at least a week. For this reason, Scaloni and the rest of the coaching staff took some precautions so that training could start at dusk.
While the city awaits the arrival of thousands of Argentines for the debut, dozens of fans gathered this afternoon, most of them Mexican and other Central American countries. Messi is the great magnet and that is why he generates madness even in some North Americans. However, the majority of the locals in the capital of Georgia are currently indifferent to the start of the Copa América. “Are they for a congress?” asked the driver who took the La Nación team to the center. “America Cup? Soccer?” he asked, surprised.
Westin Peachtree Plaza is the hotel that houses the players. It has 77 floors and a revolving restaurant on the top. It is one of the most luxurious in the city.
The leaders who are part of the delegation were the first to board the white Carolina Limousine & Coach bus. When Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia left the hotel, a fan shouted “great Chiqui” at him. As if he were just another player, he greeted and took refuge under the air conditioning inside the bus. Marilis and Carolina are Venezuelans and have been working here for three years. They both have friends and family in Buenos Aires and ask “who is this sir?”, in reference to Tapia. Everyone comes to see the captain, Lionel Messi, who needs no introduction.
Even less since he arrived in the United States to be the figure and brand of Inter Miami. And with it, soccer took on another relevance in a country that is more accustomed to the big NBA basketball games, American football and baseball rather than what they call soccer. The MLS knew how to have some figures, today it has the world champion.
The bus is escorted by four motorized police officers in the style of “Chips”, the old American television series. While the procession left, other followers ran the bus.
News in development
