Scaloni hails '12th man' as Argentina fans hit Miami

Argentina's national football team coach Lionel Scaloni described the country's fans as a "12th man" as thousands descended upon Miami for their World Cup clash against Cape Verde. The city, already home to Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi, boasts a substantial Argentine population, estimated at around 30,000 residents in southern Florida.

By the time of the round-of-32 match, the support for Messi and his teammates is expected to swell to 60,000, creating a vibrant atmosphere at Miami Stadium. Scaloni welcomed this fervent backing, stating, "Their support is something that I love." He emphasized that the fans' presence strengthens the team rather than adding undue pressure, expressing hope that the team can bring them joy.

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Their support is something that I love. We feel their support, they strengthen us and it's not extra pressure for us. I hope that they enjoy seeing their team and hopefully we can bring them joy.

"Our fans are our 12th player. Our players were Argentina fans when they were little. Now they're wearing this jersey. I think that this shows the team's character," Scaloni remarked during his pre-match press conference. The iconic sky blue and white striped jerseys, synonymous with the three-time world champions, were a common sight.

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Our fans are our 12th player. Our players were Argentina fans when they were little. Now they're wearing this jersey. I think that this shows the team's character.

Hundreds of fans participated in a "Banderazo," or pep rally, at a beachside park. Argentina flags and banners, some depicting football legends Messi and Diego Maradona, adorned the trees. Amidst the grilling of large cuts of beef and the sounds of drumming and music, fans chanted praises for their heroes, even braving the seaweed-strewn ocean.

While Scaloni maintained a cautious approach towards the underdog Cape Verde, many fans were more optimistic. "Argentina is going to come away with a very good 3-0, 2-0 victory, and that's it," predicted Geronimo Guenen. He expressed strong confidence in the team's capabilities, citing Messi's consistent form and the squad's overall strength, asserting that Argentina can now compete with any opponent.

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Argentina is going to come away with a very good 3-0, 2-0 victory, and that's it. Argentina has everything it needs to win; it has a very good team, Messi is in very good form, he's had that throughout his career, and now, above all, we can compete with anyone.