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Doha (AFP) – Thousands of spectators turned out on Monday to watch Argentina’s first exercise during its short camp in Abu Dhabi, in preparation for its participation in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on Sunday.
Argentina held an open training session at Al Wahda Club’s Al Nahyan Stadium, whose stands were packed, and reports indicated that 11,000 spectators attended the stadium on paid membership cards.
Argentine star Lionel Messi, 35, received the utmost encouragement from the stands, who chanted his name with every ball he touched. .
Messi, the seven-time best player in the world, played 75 minutes of his team’s match against Auxerre in the fifteenth stage of the French championship on Sunday (5-0), before arriving in Abu Dhabi with Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria, arrived from Turin, after playing a match with his team, Juventus, in front of Lazio.
Players Paulo Dybala, Lautaro Martinez, Nicolas Gonzalez and Joaquin Correa have not trained as the squad has started training after their late arrival.
15 players took part in the first training session, including 3 goalkeepers, awaiting the arrival of the remaining players of the 26-man squad announced by coach Lionel Scaloni after the end of the relationship with the respective clubs.
The retreat of Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, includes a friendly against the hosts of the Emirates on Wednesday.
Argentina will start their matches in the global event against Saudi Arabia on November 22, in the third group, which also includes Poland and Mexico.
© 2022 AFP
