Messi, Argentina set to pull a big crowd in Beijing exhibition game against Australia

Lionel Messi and his World Cup-winning Argentina teammates are expected to draw almost 70,000 fans to Beijing Worker’s Stadium for an exhibition against Australia.

With tickets starting at around $80 for Thursday’s game, local supporters are excited to see Messi and continue the World Cup celebrations. Fans have flocked to all opportunities to see the Argentine star since the team arrived in China, with large crowds angling for photographs and chanting his name.

Messi’s move to “continue my path” in Miami last week made global headlines after he turned down extremely lucrative offers from Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia in favor of Major League Soccer.

He said that after winning the World Cup, it was his time to go the United States and “live football in another way.”

Before then, he’s with the Argentina squad that is scheduled to play Australia in the Chinese capital and take on Indonesia in Jakarta four days later.

Advertisement

UEFA

Australia coach Graham Arnold said he was looking forward to giving a selection of young players some valuable experience.

“There’s no better team to test yourself against than he best in the world,” Arnold said in an interview for Chinese TV. “It’s going to be great for the players — not only the players, but for everyone here in China and back in Australia — to see Lionel Messi play.

“He’s such a wonderful player and obviously best in the world. To have those privileges to test yourself against him, it’s important.”

Messi led Argentina to a 2-1 win over the Australians in the Round of 16 at the World Cup last year in Qatar.

For the Socceroos, though, this rematch is not about revenge for a defeat but more the journey to the next Asian Cup, at Qatar in January, and beyond.

Advertisement

UEFA

“It’s a younger squad but I’m also looking with one eye on the World Cup in 2026 and getting players ready for that,” Arnold said. “I don’t believe there’s a better way to test them out.”

Australia, which joined the Asian Football Confederation in 2006 and won the regional title on home soil in 2015, will take on India, Syria and Uzbekistan at the Asian Cup.

Arnold has handed first call-ups to Italian-based defender Alessandro Circati and Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover, and has recalled Gianni Stensness and Denis Genreau.

In other international friendlies this week, Japan will play El Salvador and South Korea, led by former U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, will take on Peru on Friday.

Klinsmann is sweating on the fitness of Tottenham star player Son Heung-min, who had a hernia operation after the end of the English Premier League season. According to Korea Football Association officials, Son wants to play but it has yet to be decided.

Advertisement

UEFA

Oh Hyeon-gu, who helped Celtic to the Scottish championship, could make the step up in Son’s absence.

“I don’t know about playing time, but whether I am given one minute or 90 minutes, I will do my best,” Oh said. “I traveled to Qatar for the World Cup. I was so desperate to play and I know all the stadiums … I want to make those dream moments if I can go to the Asian Cup.”

Oh’s Celtic teammate Kyogo Furuhashi did not make Japan’s roster at the World Cup but the Scottish Premiership Player of the Year has been recalled by Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu.

“He has been contributing to the team’s victories with consistent performance and a strong presence on the field,” Moriyasu, who is looking to lead Japan to a fifth continental title, said of the striker. “We expect him to score goals and be involved in creating goal-scoring opportunities.”

As well as the Asian Cup, Qatar is preparing for a second successive guest appearance later this month at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, the tournament that determines the champion of the region that encapsulates North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.

Advertisement

UEFA

It starts with a friendly against Jamaica in Austria on Thursday. At the World Cup, Qatar lost all three of its group games but appointed former Real Madrid and Portugal boss Carlos Queiroz in February.

The defending Asian champion, which also reached the semifinals of the 2021 Gold Cup, will take on Haiti, Honduras and Mexico in the tournament hosted by the United States.

-AP

Advertisement

UEFA

Advertisement

Bitcoin Moves Closer to...

Bitcoin price moved closer to $39,000 for the first time in over a year in a latest bullish in The post Bitcoin Moves Closer to $39,000 in...

Forex: US Dollar Lost...

The US dollar fell against its major trading partners early Friday. The dollar bear was sustained after The post Forex: US Dollar Lost Against Trading Peers appeared...

Nigeria’s Oil Export Earnings...

Nigerian government revenue from crude export is expected to boost fiscal performance in 2024 following output raise from the oil group. The post Nigeria’s Oil Export Earnings...

Again, CAF to relocate...

BY KUNLE SOLAJA   For the second time in about 30 years, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be relocating its headquarters in Egypt.  ...

Magnificent Mali pummel Argentina...

Hamidou Makalou scored an incredible individual goal as Mali swept aside Argentina to clinch the bronze medal at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Ibrahim Diarra and...

All you need to...

Following is a guide to the Euro 2024 finals draw which takes place in Hamburg on Saturday. TEAMS * Twenty one of the 24 final places...

Bitcoin Moves Closer to $39,000 in Latest Bullish Run

Bitcoin price moved closer to $39,000 for the first time in over a year in a latest bullish in The post Bitcoin Moves Closer to $39,000 in...

Forex: US Dollar Lost Against Trading Peers

The US dollar fell against its major trading partners early Friday. The dollar bear was sustained after The post Forex: US Dollar Lost Against Trading Peers appeared...

Nigeria’s Oil Export Earnings to Rise After OPEC Upgrade

Nigerian government revenue from crude export is expected to boost fiscal performance in 2024 following output raise from the oil group. The post Nigeria’s Oil Export Earnings...

Again, CAF to relocate headquarters

BY KUNLE SOLAJA   For the second time in about 30 years, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be relocating its headquarters in Egypt.  ...

Magnificent Mali pummel Argentina to win U17 World Cup bronze

Hamidou Makalou scored an incredible individual goal as Mali swept aside Argentina to clinch the bronze medal at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Ibrahim Diarra and...

All you need to know about Euro 2024 draw

Following is a guide to the Euro 2024 finals draw which takes place in Hamburg on Saturday. TEAMS * Twenty one of the 24 final places...

Moroccan monarch, King Mohammed VI wants greater attention to climate change

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has decried the lukewarm attitude of world leaders to the issue of climate change. That was the bedrock of his speech...

Football world celebrates Amaju Pinnick on his birthday

BY KUNLE SOLAJA. Messages of congratulations have been pouring in for former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president as he celebrates his 53rd birthday this Friday, December 1,...

Zenith Bank Partners CFA to Promote Human Capital Development in Finance, Investment

Zenith Bank Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute to promote efforts and activities that support the formation,...