Thiago Almada, the heir to an Angel: the goal from the field to rescue Argentina's draw against Colombia

There's a designated heir in the Argentine national team . As in the executive branch, the chain of command of the Scaloneta has a name and surname that, on Tuesday night at the Monumental stadium, appeared at the moment most needed to rescue the 1-1 draw against Colombia , when the Albiceleste were playing with one less man due to the expulsion of Enzo Fernández . It's Thiago Almada , the one who took Di María's testimony. An heir to Ángel .

Like so many other stories of Argentine soccer greats, the 24-year-old born in Fuerte Apache, in Ciudadela Norte, grew up dribbling on dirt fields, dodging kicks in that breeding ground of the soccer fields . He made a name for himself at Vélez and was once the most expensive signing in the MLS when he joined Atlanta United.

And just as he did on those clay pitches, he did so in the 80th minute at River Plate, when he emerged as the catalyst that could break the monotony of the national team. Just two minutes after captain Lionel Messi had come on , at his best and thinking about the fact that he must make his Club World Cup debut with Inter Miami on Saturday .

Right with the number '11', the same one with which Di María scored so many important goals painted in sky blue and white , Almada received a quick cross from Foyth for Palacios, who delivered it to him on the edge of the area, at the vertex of the crescent.

Thiago controlled the ball, feinted when the yellow jerseys were getting in front of him and unleashed a low right-footed cross that, after passing between a pair of rival legs, was nailed against the right post of goalkeeper Kevin Mier .

It was a total outburst at the Monumental . In the packed stands, obviously, but also on the bench. Lionel Scaloni shouted it effusively , perhaps comparable to Lautaro Martínez's at high altitude in Bolivia. So did the substitutes, including Messi himself.

Paradoxical as it may seem, it was Almada's 10th match and his fourth goal for the national team, all after winning the World Cup in Qatar. But since Pujato's coach began giving him a run, it's his third: Bolivia (6-0), Uruguay (1-0), and this one in the 1-1 draw against Colombia.

"Scaloni tells me to play the way I've been doing. He gives me freedom and confidence," argued the Olympique Lyonnais winger regarding the reasons for his brazenness.

“THE EXCITEMENT IS ALWAYS THERE… DAY BY DAY WE EARN A PLACE TO BE IN THE WORLD CUP”

Thiago Almada, after Argentina's draw against Colombia. pic.twitter.com/88q5Klb6ci

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"The game went like this. They have a great team. We made a great effort and were able to tie it. I'm very happy, taking advantage of being a starter, and I think I deserve this opportunity," concluded Almada, who put in a great performance, even diving to defend a ball inside the box.

Until the goal, Almada had been Messi's ideal partner. He constantly looked for him, like in that first one-two in the opening half when the number 10 shot from the right just wide of the left post, with a ball that didn't quite take the desired spin. The other shot came from Julián Álvarez, which made the visiting goalkeeper shine.

In any case, there's something the Argentine national team will have to learn. It's nothing serious or cause for concern. But they will have to understand that, as happened this Tuesday at the Monumental Stadium, there's no time to relax.

He struggled to find ways to create danger, entering the web of Néstor Lorenzo's Colombia, who relied on the speed of Luis Díaz and Jaminton Campaz for the counterattack.

The 0-1 draw, thanks to the artwork drawn by the Liverpool winger, a Colombian talent aside , didn't move the Scaloneta from the script. Mind you, in so many years with the national team, perhaps the most relaxed and confident fans have ever been.

ALMADA'S goal to tie Argentina against Colombia is one of the highlights.

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It took him a while to understand that the interior play he always excelled at was essential, and not to finish attacks almost always on the wings. When Leandro Paredes appeared and those connections between the lines for Messi, the national team grew.

The Albiceleste were left without carrots . After securing their third star in Qatar 2022, the qualifiers began, the Copa América arrived to successfully defend the 2021 title, the need to seal qualification for the 2026 World Cup, the derby against Brazil, and securing the number 1 spot in the standings.

He saved the statistic of losing twice against the same opponent in the same qualifying round, which, as fate would have it, he had only suffered against Colombia in 1993, the year of the memorable 0-5 at this same Monumental.

But there's something much more important than numbers. There is an heir, and it's Thiago Almada .