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ATLANTA (Special Envoy).- This city saw the birth of Martin Luther King, adopted Evander Holyfield and witnessed the last breath of James Brown, the godfather of soul. atlanta It was a bastion of the Confederate army in the Civil War, but also the epicenter of the fight for civil rights in the 60s. Today it is a supercity, among the 40 most populous in the United States, with a sports infrastructure that was consolidated after the Olympic Games were held in 1996. It has, among many large venues, an impressive stadium, the Mercedes Benz Arena, built after the legendary Georgia Dome was demolished in 2017.
There the Falcons, the American soccer team, share a home with United, the team that participates in Major League Soccer and that a few years ago was champion with the Rosario team. Gerardo Tata Martino, today coach of Inter Miami. In that place, the Argentine team will begin its journey next Thursday in the 48th Copa América to defend the champion title obtained in Brazil three years ago, that night at the Maracaná where the winning aura of the Scaloneta was consolidated.
Devastating heat, with a temperature above 35 degrees, received the national delegation, which located its base of operations in a hotel in the downtownwhere fences had to be placed so that the dozens of gathered fans could not create chaos during the arrival of Lionel Messi and company.
High temperatures force a calculated logistics: all training sessions are scheduled for evening hours, when the sun stops punishing with virulence. The weather news is not encouraging, since this Sunday a heat wave began in Atlanta that will last throughout the team’s stay.
The countdown in Atlanta to the debut against Canada, on Thursday at 9 p.m. in Argentina, It was launched this Thursday on the campus of Kennesaw State University, a property located northwest of Atlanta, 40 kilometers from the center (its rival is preparing in Marietta, a town a little closer). There are four tests to define a team in which many positions have equal competition.
There were two hours of hermetic practice in this place where the arrival of the Argentine buses aroused the hysteria of about fifty fans. who were waiting on George Busber Avenue, but also the scare of the police and the security of the university. People were immediately asked to calm down and a fence was set up.
An unexpected storm frightened some, but many remained and others arrived as the news spread: the world champions were in the area. Stoic until the end of the activity, they shouted at each member of the delegation who was seen from a distance and applauded Chiqui Tapia, who reciprocated with a greeting. But finally, The hundred fans who waited to see their idols were disenchanted: upon leaving the University grounds, the national team buses did not pass by where the people were.
Lionel Scaloni One of the most uncomfortable moments for a coach in the run-up to an event of this type has already been overcome: having to tell some footballers that they will not be part of the final list of the competition. With Valentín Barco, Leonardo Balerdi and Ángel Correa outside, which led to the surprise of the inclusion of the youthful Valentín Carboni, Scaloni once again endorsed something that is a constant in his cycle, especially since it was consecrated in Brazil 2021: the lists do not generate discussion in public opinion. There are no controversies over footballers who have not been mentioned or debates over someone who is there and is looked at askance. That peace of mind is worth a lot.
This time, at the end of the season for almost everyone – those who play in Europe, at least – there are not many hits. They waited for some, like Germán Pezzella – with a microcrack in a toe -, and the response of others who suffered some setbacks was tested, like Lisandro Martínez – back after a year of injuries – and Enzo Fernández – who had surgery of an inguinal hernia. Scaloni has shown signs in the past that he does not hesitate when making decisions if he sees that a footballer is not up to par with what he wants. But the team responded very well in the last friendlies. -1 to 0 against Ecuador in Chicago and 4 to 1 against Guatemala in Washington-.
It is a group that transmits the same sensation in each appearance: ambition remains, The voracity is preserved, the joy of wearing the light blue and white shirt is intact. The example comes from above, of course: Lionel Messi has designed his entire season at Inter Miami thinking about reaching the Copa América in optimal conditions. Without leaving aside his appetite as a born competitor, he directed his energies to continue fueling the myth in the national team.
It will be in Atlanta where a new dream of the Scaloneta begins, the heroes of several generations who waited years to celebrate with the national team. In Atlanta, a city that brings back bitter memories for more than one when linked to Argentina. Clear, It was the venue for the 1996 Olympic Games, when the team led by Daniel Passarella lost the gold final against Nigeria. However, that match, played on August 3 and which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Africans, was not played in this city, but in Athens, 130 kilometers away.
Here, under the sweltering heat of the American South, in the land of fighters and dreamers, the national team can embark on another journey to glory.
