Argentine press cheered on Monday after the nation's under-20
soccer team qualified for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where
they will defend the gold medal won in the 2004 Athens Games.
Sporting daily Ole filled its first page with a picture of
Lautaro Acosta's goal celebrations, the last play in the 23rd South
American Championships in a game Argentina won 1-0. Brazil had
earlier won the championship.
Daily newspaper Clarin headlined with the phrase The Under-20:
and on to the World Cup and the Games, but the main article
complained of the poor quality soccer played by the team managed by
Hugo Tocalli.
"The team lacked stars... it was ready to say goodbye to the
under-20 without having shone. But when the team seemed ready to
settle for only a place in the Canada 2007 Junior World Cup the
goal came and gave them a ticket to Beijing," said the
newspaper.
Missing from the squad were Lionel Messi, who plays for
Spanishleague team Barcelona, and Sergio Aguero who plays for
Spain's Atletico Madrid.
La Nacion headlined "Olympic Relief", describing the game as
follows: "The last corner, the last hope, was taken by Maximiliano
Morales. Lautaro Acosta is a midfielder, but he came on to play as
a forward. He jumps as best he could: higher than he had in all the
tournament."
"The Uruguayan goalkeeper Fontes was dazed. He jumped at the
wrong time. The team yelled goal," the newspaper said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2007)