‘They didn’t even let us go to the bathroom when we got off the plane’
Argentina have criticised Chile for the treatment they received at their hotel in the build-up to their World Cup qualifier that took place on Thursday night.
The two went head to head in Calama where Argentina were the victors after goals from Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez.
But the build-up to the game was affected by a series of issues, with midfielder Rodrigo De Paul hitting out at their supposedly unfriendly welcome from the moment they arrived in Chile.
“They didn’t even let us go to the bathroom when we got off the plane,” the Atletico Madrid man said.
“They cut off our air conditioners, we had no water and they made sirens sound throughout the stay.
“I’m not saying it’s right or wrong, but, as an Argentine, every team that comes to my country, we have to make them feel as comfortable as possible and we have to win on the playing field where it belongs.”
Argentine journalist Pablo Carrozza supported De Paul’s claims in a Twitter post which said: “There is a lot of anger in the Argentine team because they cut off the water in the hotel, and they turn on a siren every half hour, so as not to let the players rest.
Hay muchísima bronca en la selección argentina porque les cortaron el agua del hotel, y les encienden una sirena cada media hora, para no dejar descansar a los jugadores. Todo esto se suma a la odisea de anoche. Los chilenos ya no saben qué hacer para frenar a La Scaloneta.
— Pablo Carrozza (@pablocarrozza) January 27, 2022
“All of this adds up to last night’s odyssey. Chileans no longer know what to do to stop La Scaloneta.”
Distracting opposition teams staying in their accommodation is not an uncommon sight in football – however it is usually a tactic used by fans as oppose to clubs/countries themselves.
This has included setting off fireworks in the early hours of the morning of a game, setting off fire alarms and even organising marching bands.
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