Argentine football has had a rough start to the season and the Argentine players have been frustrated by their recent defeat in the FIFA World Cup. But with the Copa America and the Bicentennial Gold Cup in the coming months, time will tell whether the team can recover.
World Cup
In the early hours of Tuesday, Argentina’s World Cup-winning team arrived in Buenos Aires. Thousands of fans poured onto the streets of the capital to greet the players. They were welcomed with fireworks and a red carpet.
It was a historic day for Argentina. A longtime champion of soccer, they earned their third world cup title in 2022. The team’s captain, Lionel Messi, led the charge.
For many, it was a relief to finally see Argentina win the big prize. They have been waiting for this for a long time. During a tough economic time, Argentines have been looking for good news.
A number of players made history as they played in their first-ever World Cup final. Mario Kempes scored the lone goal in extra time and then Messi matched his feat. He also became the first player to score in every game of the knockout round of the tournament.
Copa America
If you’re an Argentina fan, you’ll probably be chomping at the bit to watch La Albiceleste in the Copa America in 2023. Originally scheduled to take place in 2020, the tournament was moved to Brazil in 2020, and will now be played in the Summer of 2023.
The tournament is also known as the Campeonato Sudamericano de Futbol, or CSF, and is contested by ten CONMEBOL member countries: Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Brazil. It is considered the oldest still running continental football competition.
Uruguay has won the most Copa America titles with fifteen. Their last title came in 1995 as hosts. They defeated Chile in the semifinals and were crowned winners. During the 1930s, the team dominated the South American Championship and won three consecutive titles.
Australia Bicentennial Gold Cup
Argentina and Australia met in the Australian Bicentennial Gold Cup on July 14, 1988. The Socceroos topped the Argentinian team 4-1 in Sydney. That was not the only time they contested the competition.
It also was not the last time they met in the Australian Bicentennial Gold cup. They last faced each other in September 2007.
Argentina won four of the seven games they played. But the Socceroos have not had a good record against the South American country. Despite their successes, the two teams are not popular in the local area.
While it was a nice feat to win the chempionate trophy, Argentina did not perform particularly well in the Australian Bicentennial Gold Cup. They did not score very many goals. Nevertheless, they did manage to produce the best result of the tournament, which was to beat the local team 5-1 in the final game.
Argentine players frustrated by defeat
Argentina’s players are frustrated by their 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on Sunday. It was a shock defeat that will go down in World Cup history as one of the biggest upsets. The Argentines had been unbeaten in 36 matches before losing to the Asian side.
Argentina is one of the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup. But they have a difficult group to get out of. Mexico and Poland are the two teams they must beat. This is a battle they cannot afford to lose.
Argentina was also facing a fractious political landscape. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was sentenced to six years in jail for her role in a corruption scandal. Her support base was quiet after conviction. However, her support base grew when she decided to leave her government.
Time changes in Argentina in 2023
In the Argentinian context, the time of day is an issue. For instance, if you are heading out to the city center, you are probably going to want to make sure you have your passport in hand. Similarly, if you are on the road in the early hours of the morning, a nifty little clock in your pocket can make your commute go a lot smoother. It is also possible to purchase time in the form of a mobile device, but be prepared to pay a premium for the privilege.
However, if you are looking for a truly comprehensive study of the country, you’ll have to look elsewhere. For example, the OECD released its annual Economic Survey of Argentina in June, a collection of statistical studies compiled by more than a hundred of the country’s leading economists. Not all of these surveys are equally granular, but all provide an opportunity to gauge how the country’s economy has been faring over the last few months and what its economic outlook will look like in a few years’ time.