New Delhi: Argentina forward Angel Di Maria received a befitting farewell after Argentina edged past Columbia 1-0 in the Copa America 2024 final played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Monday. The El Fideo of Argentina football called the jubilant campaign as a ‘dream farewell’.
Lautaro Martinez’s strike in the extra time (112th minute) helped the La Albiceleste to win their 16th continental title. This was also Argentina’s third major international title in a row following their triumphs in 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, making them the only other team after Spain to win three consecutive international trophies.
The 36-year-old Di Maria had announced in November 2023 that he would hang up his boots from the international stage after the conclusion of the Copa America 2024.
“I dreamt it, that’s why I said it was the last Copa America and it ended here. I dreamt that I would reach the final, I dreamt that I would win it, that I would retire like this,” Di Maria was quoted as saying by news agency AFP.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni took Di Maria off in the final minutes of extra-time, ensuring he received a huge farewell from the team’s fans which his eyes showed he was moved by.
Beso a beso, me enamoré de ti 🩵🤍🩵 pic.twitter.com/mFNrEKigWI
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) July 15, 2024
‘I lived on the other side too for 10-11 years’: Angel Di Maria
Di Maria was part of Argentina’s gold medal-winning run at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which was his international breakthrough as a 20-year-old. Years later, he became a crucial part of the Argetine attack as they came very close to etch their name in history books, but couldn’t touch any major silverware. The 2014 World Cup in Brazil was their nearest run to shot to prominence.
But the South American nation had to toil hard and persistently work towards their goal to bask the glory. In the last four years, Argentina stands as a powerhouse in world football.
“I have so many beautiful feelings. I am eternally grateful to this generation, they gave me everything, they made me achieve what I wanted so much, and today I am leaving in this way, how better than this?” Di Maria said.
“It seems easy but it is very difficult. I know because I lived on the other side too for ten, 11 years, fighting for it. It’s not easy to reach finals and win them. And now it’s happening, it’s like that, at some point it had to happen and I would have liked to have been able to win one too with the previous bunch of lads, we deserved it too but we kept insisting, kept fighting and these guys gave me everything” he added.
Di Maria scored important goals in the gold-medal match at Beijing Olympics against Nigeria and 2021 Copa America final against arch-rivals Brazil as the La Abiceleste won by a 1-0 margin on both instances.
(With inputs from AFP)
Argentina forward Angel Di Maria received a befitting farewell after Argentina edged past Columbia 1-0 in the Copa America 2024 final played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Florida on Monday. Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
