Panama players rock-paper-scissors to swap shirts with Enzo Fernandez
After the match on the Monumental field on the morning of March 24, three Panamanian players surrounded Fernandez. In it, the two players had a short conversation with Fernandez and then rock-paper-scissors to decide who would exchange shirts with the Argentine midfielder.
Fernandez grinned as the two Panama players started, seemingly believing it was a joke. But the duo were completely serious, which confused Fernandez and turned away to continue talking to the other players. It is not clear which Panamanian players have exchanged shirts with Fernandez.
Fernandez's career rose to incredible heights after just nine months in Europe. He left River Plate to join Benfica as a potential young player, then became the most sought-after midfielder after the 2022 World Cup. On Qatar soil, the 2001 midfielder sealed a 2-0 victory over Mexico in the second round of the group stage, won a starting place in the middle in all five of Argentina's remaining matches, and was voted Best Young Player.
By the mid-season transfer window, Fernandez arrived at Chelsea for a record fee of $135.5 million under a contract until the summer of 2031. Since then, the Argentine midfielder has started every game under coach Graham Potter, contributing two assists in the Premier League. English class.
On the evening of March 23 at the Monumental Stadium, in the first match as the World Cup champion, Argentina easily won 2-0 Panama thanks to captain Lionel Messi. In the 78th minute, he kicked a free kick from about 30 meters away, bounced off the crossbar, letting midfielder Thiago Almada hit the back kick, scoring the first goal for the team. About ten minutes later, Messi took another free-kick into the top corner, scoring his 800th career goal and fixing the score.
After the match, in a speech to fans, Messi said he "dreams" of celebrating winning the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America in his home country. The 35-year-old striker also thanked the fans for the love during the past memorable journey.
According to TyC Sports, many people have opened spontaneous shops to sell souvenirs outside the Monumental field. An authentic Adidas Argentina shirt costs about 25,000 Argentine pesos (about $122). Meanwhile, these roadside shops sell a variety of items, including jerseys, flags, hats, posters, glasses, paintings, replicas of medals with prices depending on quality, from 4,000 pesos (20) USD) to 20,000 pesos (100 USD).
On March 28, Argentina continued to play a friendly match with Curacao at the Unico Madre de Ciudades stadium, in the city of Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
