MIAMI, Florida (Special Envoy).- The Embassy of the Argentine Republic in the United States is in the city of Washington. But, in turn, there are five large consulates: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and Miami. The Litoral reached the Brickell Avenue area, a former financial area that for a few years took over the night in the capital of the sun. The Creole consulate is located in the North Tower. “I did the paperwork for everyone: Tata Martino, Facundo Farías, Boca’s ‘4’… I need to hole out the 10,” says the person at the entrance who has complimentary tickets to go to Inter matches. .
The Miami River separates Downtown Miami from the financial and corporate area of Brickell. The Brickell Avenue and South Miami bridges rise (literally) over the river. Thus, yachts, sailboats, catamarans and boats cross the most important city in Florida.
With soccer and cumbiera kindness, the Consul General of the Argentine Republic in Miami, Marcelo Gilardoni, receives El Litoral exclusively in his office. Before arriving in Florida, he served as Ambassador to the State of Qatar and previously abroad, he was Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman and the Republic of Yemen. “They transferred me from Qatar just before the World Cup, I lived all the time before.”
There are two key dates for the 2024 Copa América in the United States in this chameleonic city: the Argentina-Peru match on June 29 and the dream of the grand final on July 14, both at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Marcelo remembers, with humor, that “confusion” of the Santa Fe clubs when Los Palmeras were there. “I confused Columbus with Union, Marcos almost killed me…” he says, laughing.
There are two pieces of information that, although not exact, can generate an idea of what may happen in this city with the Argentine National Team for that crossing with Peru. Not to mention if, again, the Scaloneta plays the final on July 14!
– It is estimated that some 200,000 Argentines are living in the La Florida area
– Likewise, every year 300,000 Argentines land at the airports in this area (Miami or Fort Lauderdale), for tourism, study or business trips.
– Without a doubt, the city will be taken over by Argentines for that match with Peru. But, in addition, the Argentine Consul provides another piece of information: “Although the Argentine National Team plays in other cities before (on June 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, against Canada; on June 25 Argentina-Chile at MetLife Stadium , New Jersey), most of those twelve flights touch down here in Miami. In other words, Miami is the gateway. May God be on the way out also thinking about the grand final on July 14.
“Thank you to El Litoral for coming, thank you Santa Fe. We are already in the run-up to the Copa América, knowing the great expectations that there are there in Argentina with the National Team. We expect a large number of Argentines and from the Consulate we are in coordination with the Foreign Ministry to meet the needs of each one. There will be many against Peru and God willing in the grand final,” explains the Argentine Consul in Miami to the Santa Fe newspaper.
-Although the Argentine National Team will play in other cities, Miami is an important geographical point…
-This city, Miami, concentrates the majority of direct flights from Argentina. There are a total of 12 weekly, between American Airlines and Aerolíneas Argentinas. That number exceeds the other frequencies from Argentina to other American cities. But, in addition, there are non-direct flights that also end here: Lima, Santiago de Chile, Asunción, Panama, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Cruz de la Sierra. In other words, almost all Argentines will enter this city to experience the Copa América.
-What recommendations as Consul, in accordance with American uses and customs, for Argentines who arrive in the United States to be in the Copa América?
-We are going to receive them and we will be there to serve everyone. The recommendation is to respect the law: you are going to find a country more familiar than Qatar. Fights in the streets must be avoided, traffic laws and American laws must be respected. For example, the harangue that is normal for us can be aggressive for the citizens of this country.
-How many Argentines are living in this area, not only Miami, but throughout Florida?
-We estimate about 200,000, although it is a difficult number to specify. On the one hand, there is a floating population; On the other hand, many Argentines already live with an American passport. In any case, when Los Palmeras came it was clear that they are there and that there are many of them. There are bars, bakeries, cafes… everything from Argentina.
-So we are going to play “at home” on June 29 against Peru…
-I noticed, having just arrived at my job in this city with the Consulate, that Miami has many pockets of Argentineness everywhere. The Miami Sharks’ thing with rugby is impressive, not to mention the phenomenon of Messi with Inter and even the polo movement itself. We are already experiencing the Copa América and we wait for many Argentines.
Some indications of Scaloni
Before leaving for Atlanta, the coach did some tests that could give clues about the probable team he plans to present in the debut. In the midfield, Alexis Mac Allister, starter against Guatemala, or Leandro Paredes – his replacement for him in the second half – is the doubt, while Enzo Fernández was kept as an intern.
In attack, Julián Álvarez entered to collaborate with the pressure when Ángel Di María and Lionel Messi were on the field. All signs that, true to his style, we will have to wait to see if Scaloni materializes in the eleven.
A long line of fans gathered in the streets to greet the passing of the bus that transported the team from the airport to the hotel. Already in Atlanta, the team held its first training session this Sunday ahead of its debut, which will be this Thursday at 9 p.m. Argentine time.
