The special night for Las Leonas and Los Leones at the close of 2024

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO (Special Envoy) – There are nights when the result seems to remain in the background. There are nights where it seems that the planets are aligned. There are nights that you never want to end. The night of December 15, 2024 will go down in the history of Argentine hockey. “From hitting so much, the wall will one day break.” This is what Ángel Di María once said after winning the 2021 Copa América soccer game after many frustrations. And the night of December 15 It felt like the wall was starting to break for Argentina. The Lionesses had the great pleasure of closing the year with a triumph against the Netherlands. The Lions celebrated the start of the new stage with a great victory against Ireland.

With an epic flavor, Las Leonas made people vibrate in the Classic against the Dutch

From the audacity of Zoe Díaz came the first Argentine goal in the late night of Santiago del Esteroafter the sensational feat of his 10, Majo Granatto. How much I missed this version of Granatto, the Argentine team. How much she herself missed being as happy as she was. Of course, the Dutch, the real orange machine, didn’t make the party easy. Every time it seemed closer I let him off the hook, they tied again.

But if this series and this renewed squad demonstrated anything, it is that the freshness that the 10 debutants brought was fuel for a new dream. And the experienced ones who are still very young were key to that ensemble with the references. Sofia Cairo He demonstrated his quality and nobility to go to the front. As he did against Belgium when he had the responsibility of scoring the Australian penalty that meant bronze. Valentina Raposo She showed the firmness and hierarchy that characterizes her and took her to the Olympic Games when she was only 18 years old. The vision of the game Juana Castellaro It also had its payoff with a well-deserved debut on the network.

And the references also appeared. Cristina China Cosentino He gave the security in the arc that he transmitted at every moment of this year. Agus Gorzelany he put his heart into it, August Alonsotemperance, Euge Trinchinettithe vertiginousness, Juli Jankunas constant sacrifice and Poy Toccalino the total emotion. Cry that will remain in memory.

Majo Granatto’s goal deserves its own paragraph. A lethal half turn. And best of all: quickly ask your colleagues to think. To have a cold mind and a warm heart. The 10 was more 10 than ever. So they will need it in the short term.

Finally, the hug and joy of the coaching staff. Fernando Ferrara had to make difficult decisions during the year. Leaving out historical players from tours, even in this case with players who, for different reasons, were not part of the call. However, the rejuvenation of the squad brought him what he was looking for. A new floor to build up. The smile wouldn’t leave his face because He knows that what was experienced that night in Santiago tasted like a pivotal match. It tasted epic.

A team that celebrated the new ones with an intractable Domene

For Los Leones, the Santiago del Estero window was a see-saw of emotionsalthough with a common factor: dedication, the desire to go for more and the search for new solutions. Like any new process, it takes time and patience, and new faces emerged to complement a team that feels it can do much more than what is reflected in the results.

Lucas Rey brought concepts of total innovation with his new coaching staff. Technology and detail to the maximum. Intensity in every sense. Intensity that with rivals like England and Ireland were key measures to understand how to go now towards 2025 to begin to slowly oil this new machine.

Ireland was also a relief on the Santiago night for the Argentines. Because the size of the English team with the two previous defeats showed that they will need work to reach that level that they crave so much and that Rey experienced firsthand as a player during the golden generation of 2016.

It was another consecrating night for Tomás Domene with a tremendous hat trick from the short corner and the ideal closing for Bautista Capurroone of the best of the year that ended up declaring victory.

But, the most important thing is that it was the celebration of five debutants who took the signed shirts of all their teammates. An image that represents what is to come in these new Lucas Rey Lions. Lions who will base their game on the technical quality of the detail, but who will seek a well-defined team identity to confront anyone who crosses their path.