Following their triumphant return with the coveted trophy, Argentina’s FIFA World Cup 2022 winning team was forced to forgo their bus parade in Buenos Aires in favour of a helicopter ride.
Messi-led squad After defeating the 2018 World Cup champions France in a penalty shootout, Argentina won the tournament after a 36-year wait. The land route was blocked by about four million people, making it impossible for Argentina’s World Cup-winning team to get to the main Obelisco monument.
Why was the Argentine squad airlifted?
The eight-hour journey was shortened out of security concerns after social media footage appeared showing some fans attempting to board the team bus as it passed beneath a bridge. The athletes were put in helicopters after being removed from their parade bus.
The group arrived at Ezeiza Airport early on Tuesday. Thousands of people were waiting with banners, flags, and flares while yelling in celebration after Messi and his teammates ended the nation’s 36-year World Cup drought.
Read More: FIFA World Cup 2022: Records broken in this tournament
Around noon, a large crowd had already gathered in downtown Buenos Aires, with all major roads closed in preparation for the parade. People sang, played instruments, climbed lampposts and bus stops and held up banners honouring Messi and the late icon Diego Maradona.
“The world champions are flying over the entire route in helicopters because it became impossible to continue on land due to the explosion of joy,” Argentina’s presidential spokeswoman Gabriela Cerruti wrote on Twitter.
President of Argentina football team Twitter after winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
“They don’t let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisco. The security agents that escorted us won’t allow us to move forward,” tweeted Chiqui Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
“A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players,” he added. “Thanks for so much love!! We are the top football nation in the world! The cup is back home.”
“I celebrate how the people took to the streets to pay homage to our national team,” President Alberto Fernandez said in a post on Twitter. “Millions of Argentines in the streets, in an uncommon December, which will remain forever in our hearts.”
The nation proclaimed Tuesday a national holiday, allowing supporters to rejoice in their team’s World Cup victory after a 36-year drought.
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