ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Thousands of fans send off team Argentina as they head to South Africa

Record ID: 446590

  • Title: ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - Thousands of fans send off team Argentina as they head to South Africa
  • Date: 30th May 2010
  • Summary: BOYS HOISTED ON SHOULDERS DRESSED IN ARGENTINA COLORS
  • Embargoed: 14th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEH39KJZ8BCE4NZPE6Y7RNZCHG
  • Story Text: Security was tight outside the Argentine Football Association in Ezeiza, Argentina on Friday (May 28) as thousands of Argentina fans saw off coach Diego Maradona and Argentina's World Cup squad ahead of the World Cup in South Africa.
    Dressed in national colors and wearing the team's jerseys, hats, and carrying banners wishing the team luck, the fans waived flags and shouted slogans as they waited for the team's arrival.
    The crowd took on a festive atmosphere as they danced and sang waiting for their team to pass by in the team bus as it made its way to Buenos Aires' Ezeiza International Airport.
    As the bus pulled out, Maradona and some of the team players waived to overjoyed fans from bus windows.
    The enthusiastic fans were upbeat and felt good about the prospects of Argentina taking home the cup for the first time since Maradona won as a player in 1986.
    "Hopefully everything goes well. And God willing, they'll get the cup," said fan, Nestor Piacenza.
    "I hope they win, that they'll be champions," said another fan, Jesica Mergarejo.
    At the airport, security had to block the entrance of exuberant fans in order to keep the airport in normal operational capacity and to prevent delays.
    Argentina will arrive to Johannesburg in the early morning hours Saturday before traveling 50 kilometers (30 miles) by bus to their University of Pretoria training center in Pretoria.
    In addition to winning the World Cup in 1986, Argentina also took home the glory in 1978.
    Argentina will make their 2010 debut against Nigeria on June 12.
    Argentina and Nigeria are part of Group B along with South Korea and Greece.
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