The odyssey that the National Team has to reach Venezuela: the hurricane, diplomatic problems and the forced passage through Colombia :: Olé

08/10/2024 22:38hs.

“We work calmly, the truth is that the training place is perfect, but we always This issue is going around and especially when security is involved, it is something delicate. The game is important, but much more important is security. So when one talks about wind, hurricanes, What happens near, what happens far, what closes the airport, well, whether you like it or not, it worries you”. This is how Lionel Scaloni spoke honestly in the press conference prior to the match against Venezuela, leaving aside important absences such as Draw Martínez or Cuti Romero, and without focusing on the long list of injuries he suffered in recent days.

Lionel Scaloni –

Scaloni and concern about Hurricane Milton

The National Team is experiencing moments of tension, which have nothing to do with football.. With the aim of making shorter sections (from Europe to the USA) and making it as easy as possible The move to Venezuelan lands, which is always complex, the decision was to base it in Miami, the place that became Leo Messi’s home for more than a year. However, the complications are increasingto the point that no one can ensure that the Scaloneta can comply with the agenda of training in the morning and getting on the plane at 2 p.m. this Wednesday.

It happens that you wait for el Hurricane Milton, category between four and five, which would be making landfall around the town of Tampa between tonight and early Thursday morning. This is on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, on the other side of Miami, but… The fearsome gusts of wind of about 250 kilometers per hour would not reach where the delegation is, but strong storms and winds of about 100 km/h are expected, which calls into question the normal functioning of airports.

We are worried and waiting to see if it is true that we can leave, They say that in the afternoon it will be possible to go out, but we are not sure. We had asked to travel today (for this Tuesday) but it was not possible, they have denied the trip. So now we will see if time allows us,” added the coach, with clear gestures of unease. It happens that The regulations require the teams to arrive at the match venue 24 hours in advance and that is why it is a problem if cannot fly this Wednesday afternoon.

Obviously, there is constant dialogue between the AFA and Conmebol, with FIFA attentive to the situation. It was even speculated that Possibility of special authorization to arrive on the same day or even postpone the meeting before Vinotinto for Friday in case the plane cannot take off in Miami.

The trip itself is not easy either from the United States or from Argentina. It happens that for political reasons, there are no direct flights to Venezuela from either country. and that weighed on the choice of choosing Miami as a bunker. “It’s not going to be easy to get there because You cannot go directly to Maturín, You cannot go directly to Venezuela from American soil. These are things that do not depend on us, we have had bad luck,” Lionel lamented.

In the midst of such a situation, the videos, tactical talks and reports about the Bocha Batista team remained in the background. “You can isolate yourself for a while, in training, but afterwards it is difficult to stay away from what is happening. I think it is even relatively correct to be aware of people’s health and that of oneself. People try to protect themselves, they even leave their homes… Experiencing it up close is not good, for us it is something new and different, to which we are not used, so we are on alert.”

The difficult logistics

The distance that the Argentine National Team will travel to visit Venezuela.

For now, The original plan remains firm, although doubts and anguish are part of the minute by minute of the Argentine delegation. Work in the morning, have the first and only training session with the entire squad (only Julio Soler is missing, who will join the direct delegation in Venezuela, since he did not have a visa to enter the United States), do the set piece practice and define 11…

Then, change, have a light lunch and leave directly to the airport (it is near the Inter Miami property) to try to get on the charter (Colombian flag), which has its final destination Maturín, but what should a do obligatory passage through Barranquilla, since – it is said – a US flight cannot arrive directly to Venezuela due to political disputes between countries. This way, If Hurricane Milton allows it, after more than five hours of travel, the team will reach its destination, to play this Thursday at 6:00 p.m. against Venezuela. Another odyssey for the Scaloneta.

This is how Venezuela arrives at the match vs. Argentina

La Vinotinto, with a great presence in the Qualifiers (it is sixth with 10 points and in the qualification zone), must continue adding to stay within the first places and keep alive the dream of qualifying for the Cup for the first time. In their last presentation, those led by Fernando Batista drew 0-0 against Uruguay.

The last matches of Venezuela

Venezuela 0 – 0 Uruguay | September 10, 2024 | South American Qualifiers

Bolivia 4 – 0 Venezuela | September 5, 2024 | South American Qualifiers

Venezuela 1 (3) – (4) 1 Canada | July 5, 2024, Quarterfinals, Copa América

Jamaica 0 – 3 Venezuela | June 30, 2024 | Group stage, Copa América

Venezuela 1 – 0 | June 26, 2024, Group stage, Copa América

Ecuador 1 – 2 Venezuela, Saturday, June 22, 2024 | Group stage, Copa América

This is how Argentina arrives at the match vs. Venezuela

Lionel Scaloni’s team, which easily leads the South American Qualifiers with 18 points, faces this match with several casualties. The most fundamental of them is that of Dibu Martínez, suspended for “offensive behavior and violation of the principles of fair play” in the matches against Chile and Colombia last September. But not only them: Alejandro Garnacho, Nicolás González, Paulo Dybala and Marcos Acuña had to be sidelined due to injury.

Beyond this large number of absences, the Albiceleste also recovered its captain Lionel Messi, who played his last game with this shirt in the final of the Copa América 2024, which he could not finish due to an ankle injury. With the return of Leo, the Scaloneta will seek to return to victory after what was a 2-1 defeat against Colombia in their last presentation.

Argentina’s last matches

Colombia 2 – 1 Argentina | September 10, 2024 | South American Qualifiers

Argentina 3 – 0 Chile | September 5, 2024 | South American Qualifiers

Argentina 1 – 0 Colombia | July 14, 2024, Final, Copa América

Argentina 2 – 0 Canada | July 9, 2024 | Semifinals, Copa América

Argentina 1 (4) – (2) 1 Ecuador | July 4, 2024 | Quarterfinals, Copa América

Last meetings between Venezuela and Argentina

Argentina 3 – 0 Venezuela | March 25, 2022 | South American Qualifiers

Venezuela 1 – 3 Argentina | September 3, 2021 | South American Qualifiers

Venezuela 0 – 2 Argentina | June 28, 2019 | America’s Cup

Argentina 1 – 3 Venezuela | March 22, 2019 | Friendly

What time do they play Venezuela vs. Argentina?

The match will be played on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (Argentina) at the Monumental Stadium in Maturín, Venezuela.

Where to watch Venezuela vs Argentina live?

The match will be broadcast on the TyC and Telefe signal, and can also be seen via streaming through TyC Sports Play. In addition, you will be able to follow the Olé website minute by minute, as always.

The probable formation of Argentina

Gerónimo Rulli; Gonzalo Montiel or Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Giovani Lo Celso; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez.

See also


With the return of Messi, how Scaloni rearms the National Team against Venezuela

Scaloni and the sanctions against Dibu Martínez and Cuti Romero

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Scaloni and the sanctions against Dibu Martínez and Cuti Romero

What did Scaloni say about Suárez's accusations against Bielsa?

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What did Scaloni say about Suárez’s accusations against Bielsa?

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