Las Leoncitas and Los Leoncitos in a year with continental joy

The first steps of the vast majority of stars who later shine at the international level begin in the youth teams. 2024 was no exception for the appearance of young promises in The Little Lions and The Little Lions who had a year with action. The Junior Pan American Cup was the big event of the year and both teams celebrated the title.

After the world runner-up, Las Leoncitas confirmed that they are the best on the continent

The logical generational change made Juan Martin Lopezcoach of the Albiceleste women’s Under 21 team, will begin the 2024 season with new names after obtaining the runner-up title in the world of the specialty the previous year in Chile.

A great base repeated their stay on the payroll after the feat: Mercedes Artola, Valentina Férola, Victoria Falasco, Malena Sábez, Pilar Pisthon, Pilar Palacio, Brisa Ruggeri and Ariana Arias (she had traveled as a reserve). While due to a matter of age the vast majority were no longer there and those who could still be cited as cases of Valentina Raposo, Zoe Díaz, Lara Casas, Sofía Cairó and Juana Castellaro were chosen to play for Las Leonas and be part of the Olympic process.

Those who supplanted them and made their first Pan-American experience were Lucía Ladrón de Guevara, Catalina Stamati, Sol Guignet, Sol Olalla, Milagros Di Santo, Bárbara Raposo, Lourdes Pisthon, Emma Knobl, Agustina Miranda and Belén Bazzana.

Regarding the continental competition held in Surrey, Canada, Las Leoncitas left no doubts. They beat Mexico 12 to 0 in the debut, then they beat 3 to 0 The Cimarroncitasthey once again made a wide difference with a 9 to 0 against Canada and closed the group stage with a 2-0 victory against The Little Devils. In the semifinal They beat the Uruguayansbut by 5 to 0. In the grand final, consecration came after beating the United States 3 to 1.

The victory meant lifting the Pan American trophy again after eight years, after failing to win it in the last two editions (2021 and 2023). It was the eighth title in the 11 times it was played.

The Leoncitos achieved the two-time Pan American championship without objections

For Juan Ignacio Gilardithe panorama with the Argentine men’s youth team was similar to what happened with the women. The generational change meant that several players were no longer part of Los Leoncitos, although, in the case of Bautista Capurro, was also for being part of the Olympic process.

Ten players who traveled to Malaysia to compete in the 2023 Junior World Cup were once again part of the list of those called up to compete in Surrey: Marco Aguirregomezcorta, Agustín Bonanno, Tomás Ruiz, Joaquín Ruiz, Ignacio Nardolillo, Matías Rey, Juan Pedro Fernández, Bruno Correa , Matías Andreotti and Nicolás Rodríguez. They were joined by: Teo Barrena, Cirilo Cippitelli, Jeremías Doubouloy, Santiago Fernández, Lautaro Martínez, Mateo Serrano, Lorenzo Somaini, Thiago Zalazar, Juan Ignacio López and Juan Cruz Boretti.

Like Las Leoncitas, the performance of the men was exceptional throughout the continental championship. They debuted with a 9-0 win against Mexicothen it was 12 to 0 to Brazil5 to 0 to Chili and they closed the group stage with a 6 to 0 against Canada and a 12 to 0 against United States whom they beat again 3 to 0 in the semifinals. In the final it was again a dance against Canada, this time, 10 to 0.

The classification for the 2025 World Cup and the debutants in the Major League

The achievements achieved by both teams translated into several players who were able to debut with the senior team during the year. On the women’s side, some from process 2023 as Mercedes Artola, Brisa Bruggesser, Paula Santamarina and María Emilia Larsen had their first minutes with Las Leonas. Also from this squad, Emma Knobl, Lourdes Pisthon and Victoria Falasco They also wore the Argentine Major League jersey during the Pro League in Santiago del Estero.

All this accompanied by the young Valentina Raposo, Juana Castellaro, Sofía Cairó, Zoe Díaz and Lara Casas who won the bronze medal at the Olympic Games. Finally, Chiara Ambrosiniwho was one of the eight new ones that traveled to the last tour of Uruguay after the Junior Pan American Cup, also made her debut with Las Leonas, coincidentally, before doing so in an official competition with Las Leoncitas.

On the men’s side, It was also the time to wear the albiceleste Los Leones shirt for the first time for Matías Andreotti, Joaquín Ruíz, Bruno Correa and Agustín Bonanno.

Both teams, as continental champions, will compete in the Junior World Cup in 2025. The men will travel to India, while the women will go to Chile. Both will be done during December. Prior to that, they will also compete in the Junior Pan American Games in Asunción, Paraguay, between August 10 and 19.