"Diary From The 2022 FIFA World Cup" - Epilogue

After 27 daily diary entries and a book I'm immensely proud of, here's a final sign off and the epilogue in full, reproduced below.

Here's a link to the book itself together with other ways and means in which to support me and thumb the eye of the traditional publishers who refused to read any of my original manuscripts!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2SG69L3

https://www.patreon.com/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.paypal.me/TheBlackfordBookClub
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/steveblackford

"On 23rd March 2023, 83,214 feverishly excited Argentines packed into the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires for a friendly fixture with Panama.

But this was no ordinary friendly.

Over three months had now passed since one of, if not THE greatest football game of all time had seen their heroes win the World Cup for the third time in their nation’s history and to state they gave their conquering footballing heroes an incredible reception would be to express the grandest of all understatements. With the players and manager Lionel Scaloni all joined on the pitch with their extended families and the World Cup trophy sitting proudly on a plinth pre-match, the adulation was as palpable as it was expected and as were the tears that flowed from many of the players, Messi and manager Scaloni included, who looked around the stadium in utter bewilderment at the incessant singing and adulation ringing out constantly all around them.

Messi scored. Of course he did!

His 800th career goal too.

“I always dreamed of this moment, celebrating with you” Messi told the baying crowd. “To come to my country and lift a Copa America, the Finalissima and the greatest of all the trophies, the World Cup. I know this is our day to celebrate but I don’t want to forget all the teammates who were here before, who also put everything on the field to achieve this and we were very close before. They deserve all the recognition of the Argentine fans because they always did their best for these colours”.

“Eternal gratitude to these players. Football belongs to them, and without them we wouldn’t have won the World Cup” echoed an incredibly emotional and clearly overcome manager Scaloni “Everyone who wears this shirt gives their all and sometimes the results don’t come. But this time we got it and it’s incredible”.

Gracias por los recuerdos de Lionel Messi.

Thank you for the memories, Lionel Messi".

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