“After the FIFA World Cup, I think it’s time to quit. There are a lot of players who are up to the level of the national squad. It would be a little selfish of me to continue after so many years and have achieved what I wanted.”
Di Maria quits
In Argentina, everyone praises Leo Messi, which is logical. The final against France would be his last game in the FIFA World Cup, and Leo could lift the only cup he resisted. Messi is one of many from the national team in this situation. Angel Di Maria stated some time ago that Qatar 2022 World Cup would be his last major tournament with the Albiceleste. “After the FIFA World Cup, I think it’s time to quit. There are a lot of players who are up to the level of the national squad. It would be a little selfish of me to continue after so many years and have achieved what I wanted,” he admitted.
But before saying goodbye, Angel Di Maria wants to do one last act of service, and the finale is his locality. He is a specialist, having scored in the previous two finals performed by Argentina. He scored the goal with which the national squad thrashed Brazil at the Maracana to win the Copa America in 2021. This ended a 28-year drought in Argentina.
Argentina are looking to avenge their defeat to Germany in 2014
“We dreamed about it so much, we fought so hard, a lot of people doubted and criticized us, but we didn’t give up, and we won the long-coveted title we were looking for,” he said. Di Maria would score again in a 3-0 victory over Italy in the Finalissima. Angel received the ball from Lautaro Martinez and headed past Donnarumma. “I’m thrilled to score again in the final. After many lost finals, being able to win two consecutive in the same year is very important,” he repeated. Di Maria was referring to the Copa America finals he lost in 2015 and 2016, both on penalties, against Chile. Now Argentina are looking to avenge their defeat to Germany in 2014. Di Maria was Argentina’s best player in that tournament, along with Messi, but an untimely injury in the quarter-final with Belgium left him out of the final.
The winger, at the time, accused Real Madrid of wanting to take them out of the final: “I asked a doctor to give me the letter that it came from Madrid. I didn’t even open it. I just ripped it into little pieces and told him: ‘Throw it away. I’m the only one who decides here’.
‘El Fideo’ knows what it’s like to win a world championship
History, albeit with nuances, repeated itself in Qatar 2022. Di Maria was injured in the third group stage match against Poland and has only played eight minutes since, in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands. Angel didn’t perform in the semi-final against Croatia – partly for technical reasons, somewhat to reserve him – but the winger has recovered from his quadriceps injury and will be ready to play in the final. The ball is now in the court of Lionel Scaloni. The Albiceleste coach could leave Di Maria unattended if he repeats the tactical variations drawn by him in the 1/4 finals or in the semi-finals. The truth is those finals are not played; they are won. ‘El Fideo’ knows something about it.
His goal gave Argentina to victory against Nigeria in the final of the 2008 Beijing Games. He also knows what it’s like to win a world championship, although not with the senior squad. The Albiceleste, with Di Maria benched, defeated Czechia in the final of the 2007 U20 FIFA World Cup. The fame, in the form of goals, went to Sergio Aguero and Mauro Zarate.