Argentine national soccer team arrives in Japan
May 16, 2002
NARITA, Japan (Reuters) - World Cup favourites Argentina arrived in Japan on Thursday carrying the weight of their country's hopes for a third triumph to ease the pain of a ravaging economic crisis back in South America.
FIFA
The players, including Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, AS Roma striker Gabriel Batistuta and Lazio's Hernan Crespo, arrived at Narita airport near Tokyo to a flood of camera flashes.
Batistuta smiled as he walked past TV cameras but Veron, who has suffered a difficult season with United as they failed to win a trophy, looked sullen.
Fans hoping to catch a glimpse of some of the world's most high-profile players were disappointed as the squad, wearing the team's pale blue and white sweatsuits, were quickly ushered out of a special exit under tight security.
Argentina's training camp will be in Fukushima prefecture, about 200 km north of Tokyo.
Japanese television later showed the players arriving at the camp where they were greeted by schoolchildren waving small Argentinian flags and shouting 'Good luck!' in Spanish.
With their country's economy on the verge of collapse and poverty levels rising, Argentinians -- who live and breathe soccer -- are looking for their footballers to give them a reason to celebrate.
Bookmakers have them as favourites, followed by reigning world champions France, but they face a tough first-round group in which they will have to face England, Nigeria and Sweden.
Argentina are the second team to arrive in Japan for the May 31 to June 30 tournament after Costa Rica on Monday. Saudi Arabia and Senegal will land later on Thursday.