The seasoned goalie discusses her feelings after the national men’s team was named world champions in December. She was a member of the team during the 2003 competition in the United States.
After Argentina’s Lionel Messi and his team defeated France on penalties in the championship game in Qatar, an estimated five million fans flocked to the streets of Buenos Aires to welcome them home as heroes.
La Albiceleste are getting ready for their opening encounter at the Women’s World Cup against Italy at Eden Park in Auckland on July 24 at 07:00 BST, seven months after those extraordinary sights in Argentina’s capital.
No nation has ever been able to simultaneously host the men’s and women’s World Cups. It’s doubtful that will alter in the upcoming weeks.
Argentina leads the men’s game, while the women, who are ranked 28th in Fifa’s rankings, haven’t won a game in any of their previous three outings at the international competition, which took place in 2003, 2007 and 2019.
That may help to explain why there isn’t much indication in the nation, which is obsessed with football, that manager German Portanova and his team will compete in the biggest women’s athletic event.
The majority of Argentines are football enthusiasts, but women’s football is not as well-liked, according to Daniela Lichinizer, a sports writer for TN Deportivo in Argentina.
“I’m certain that the majority of them are unaware that our national team will participate in a World Cup in a few days. At the moment, there are no television advertising promoting it. It’s somewhat depressing.
The number of Argentina supporters for the women’s group matches against 2019 quarterfinalists Italy, African champions South Africa, and World Cup heavyweights Sweden in New Zealand is likely to be in the hundreds rather than thousands, compared to up to 40,000 in Qatar in December.The men’s victory was a rare opportunity for a national outpouring of excitement in Argentina, which has been through an interminable economic crisis and skyrocketing inflation.
But because of the 6,000-mile time difference, Argentina’s two group matches against Italy and Sweden begin at 3 a.m. and 4 a.m., respectively, in the host country of the Women’s World Cup.
Lichinizer continues, “I think people aren’t going to wake up in the middle of the night to watch the matches.
The estimated 2,000 Argentines already residing in New Zealand are likely to make up the large majority of their support bases for games in Auckland, Dunedin, and Hamilton.
Stefania Leon, the women’s media officer for Argentina, recalls playing three friendly games there in February.
“There weren’t many Argentina supporters, but those that were there were noisy. There are a very small number of crazy fans that I am aware of that are traveling to the World Cup from Argentina. There is no way it will resemble Qatar.
Messi’s accomplishments in Qatar will serve as motivation for Argentina’s team as they aim to advance to the knockout rounds for the first time.
Striker Paulina Gramaglia says when comparing the goals of the men’s and women’s teams, “It is a tremendous inspiration, but the expectation is not the same.
“We don’t have the same basis as they do, and we don’t want to take home the trophy. We each have our own objectives and situations.
At Argentina’s national training facility, where the men were preparing for the Copa America in Brazil and the women were preparing for the World Cup in France at the same time, players had the opportunity to see Messi four years prior.
Midfielder Florencia Bonsegundo says, “I know Leo, we shared a lunch before going to the last World Cup.”
The fact that Messi was the only player to stick around for pictures astonished me the most.
Lichinizer claimed that mixing the men’s and women’s squads was uncommon.
“When you ask the [women’s] players about that day, they will tell you it was only lunch,” she continued. The women were seated at a different table from the men.
Before the women’s team leaves for New Zealand, I haven’t yet seen a video or message from the men’s team supporting them. As the World Cup approaches, that could alter. I really hope so.
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