Maradona's Argentinean squad arrive in S Africa
Sunday, 30 May 2010
JOHANNESBURG, May 29 (AP): Diego Maradona and his Argentina squad arrived in South Africa for the World Cup Saturday, looking jet-lagged as they were greeted by media at the Johannesburg airport.
The Denmark squad also touched down soon after before catching a connecting flight to its team base in Cape Town.
Maradona blew a kiss to reporters at the OR Tambo International Airport, saying "Hola, South Africa. I love South Africa."
The Argentina coach did not stop to take questions before leaving for his team's base at the High Performance Centre in the capital Pretoria, just north of Johannesburg.
Lionel Messi was also subdued on his first appearance in South Africa. Wearing a white baseball cap, the Barcelona forward and did not react to requests from the assembled media for a smile or a wave.
Security was high at the airport, with a line of South African police carrying guns and wearing dark blue uniforms moving out onto the tarmac as the Argentina team's airplane taxied toward the building. Maradona, who has already named his final 23-man World Cup squad, then led the players off the plane on the short walk to the newly built special arrival facility for World Cup teams.
His squad members, including Manchester City's Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid, followed in the bright early morning sunshine wearing team tracksuits. Argentina boasts a talent-filled squad, which also includes Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain, Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Diego Milito, the striker who scored both goals in Inter Milan's 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Argentina faces Nigeria, South Korea and Greece in the group stages in South Africa. The two-time World Cup winner begins its 2010 campaign against Nigeria at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 12.
Denmark also landed in Johannesburg Saturday morning, with its players opting for smart black suits for their trip to the World Cup.
The Denmark squad also touched down soon after before catching a connecting flight to its team base in Cape Town.
Maradona blew a kiss to reporters at the OR Tambo International Airport, saying "Hola, South Africa. I love South Africa."
The Argentina coach did not stop to take questions before leaving for his team's base at the High Performance Centre in the capital Pretoria, just north of Johannesburg.
Lionel Messi was also subdued on his first appearance in South Africa. Wearing a white baseball cap, the Barcelona forward and did not react to requests from the assembled media for a smile or a wave.
Security was high at the airport, with a line of South African police carrying guns and wearing dark blue uniforms moving out onto the tarmac as the Argentina team's airplane taxied toward the building. Maradona, who has already named his final 23-man World Cup squad, then led the players off the plane on the short walk to the newly built special arrival facility for World Cup teams.
His squad members, including Manchester City's Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid, followed in the bright early morning sunshine wearing team tracksuits. Argentina boasts a talent-filled squad, which also includes Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain, Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano and Diego Milito, the striker who scored both goals in Inter Milan's 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.
Argentina faces Nigeria, South Korea and Greece in the group stages in South Africa. The two-time World Cup winner begins its 2010 campaign against Nigeria at Johannesburg's Ellis Park on June 12.
Denmark also landed in Johannesburg Saturday morning, with its players opting for smart black suits for their trip to the World Cup.