Hundreds of fans welcomed the team back to Buenos Aires after their penalty shootout victory against the Netherlands.

On Monday, hundreds of people gathered at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires to welcome and celebrate Argentina’s “Leonas,” the national field hockey team that was crowned world champion after defeating host nation the Netherlands, securing the South American country’s third world title in history.

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Led by captain Maria Jose “Majo” Granatto, a group of 11 players and the coaching staff of head coach Fernando Ferrara were surrounded by fans of all ages who arrived early in the morning to show their affection for the team.

“It weighs a ton. It’s years of effort and dreaming about it. There were also many defeats we had to go through to be able to lift it today,” Granatto said as she signed autographs for boys and girls, some dressed in the uniforms of local clubs where several of the “Leonas” have developed their careers.

The players stepped off the plane wearing the gold medals from their triumph around their necks and joined the crowd in singing songs such as, “Argentina is a feeling, I can’t stop.”

The text reads, “Argentina is world champion in field hockey. Las Leonas were crowned champions of the 2016 Hockey World Cup. After a 1-1 draw, they defeated the Netherlands 3-1 in a penalty shootout. This victory marks their third world title.”

Victoria Granatto, Emma Knobl, Zoe Diaz, Milagros Alastra, Victoria Sauze, Sofia Cairo — who converted the shootout that sealed Argentina’s victory — Juana Castellaro, Mercedes Artola, Julieta Jankunas and Lara Casas returned to the country, while the rest of the squad headed to their clubs in European leagues.

Majo Granatto, 31, a bronze medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, thanked the crowd, especially the girls and teenagers playing in Argentina’s youth field hockey divisions. “We play for them. We play for all the girls who play this sport,” she said.

The “Leonas” were crowned champions Saturday after defeating the Netherlands in a shootout following a 1-1 draw in regulation. The title, won against the host team at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, ended a 16-year wait for Argentina, which had won its previous two World Cups in Perth in 2002 and Rosario in 2010.

Luciana Aymar, a former player, accompanied the championship team during the tournament, demonstrating the continuity between generations in a country that since the late 20th century has been a regular contender in the leading women’s field hockey competitions.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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