Thousands welcome home Argentina squad, without Messi, despite World Cup loss

Thousands of Argentina fans braved cold weather and rain on Monday to greet the national football team on its return home after a 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Spain, even as star captain Lionel Messi was not seen among the arrivals.

The welcome at Buenos Aires was festive rather than sombre. Supporters gathered outside the airport to sing, dance and set off fireworks, creating scenes that contrasted with the disappointment of losing the final. The team was received with a red carpet and a military band before boarding a bus that made its way through crowds of cheering fans.

According to the Argentine Football Association, some squad members were not on the flight back. Messi was not seen leaving the aircraft in images shown by local television. Coach Lionel Scaloni and the rest of the squad were greeted by fans who turned out in large numbers despite the weather.

The loss ended Argentina’s bid for back-to-back world titles, but many supporters said they remained proud of the team’s efforts. Several fans at the airport praised Messi for his years with the national side and urged him not to retire from international football. Others said Spain had deserved the victory but that the Argentine players had still given supporters plenty to celebrate.

Some fans also pointed to Argentina’s semi-final win over England as a tournament highlight, amid the long-running dispute between the two countries over the Falkland Islands. Flags and slogans reflecting that political tension were visible among some of the crowd.

On the field, Argentina’s campaign was marked by controversy. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez said on Instagram that the team had represented itself in the “best possible way” despite his red card in the final and several ugly moments during the tournament. FIFA has said it is investigating Argentina over disciplinary issues, including post-match scenes after the win over England.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez also signalled he would reflect on his international future after the defeat. In a social media post, he said the pain was hard to describe and suggested he needed time to decide what comes next.

Messi, meanwhile, wrote on Instagram that the hurt from the loss would take time to heal, but he also pointed to the positives of the team reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.

After the match, hundreds of supporters gathered at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, a traditional celebration point, where they stayed out for hours on Sunday night. Police later used water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets to break up unrest at the site, and 15 people were detained, according to police sources.

This report is based on a monitored public feed and is attributed to Dawn Sport.

Source: Dawn Sport - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017381/thousands-welcome-home-argentina-squad-without-messi-despite-world-cup-loss