Mateo Pulcini, the only Argentine in the 156-man field for the 154th Open Championship, is already plotting a celebration with organisers at Royal Birkdale should Lionel Messi’s side beat England in Wednesday night’s World Cup semi-final.
According to a fresh update from Sky Sports at Royal Birkdale, the Latin America Amateur Championship winner said he has been fielding messages from friends since Argentina’s quarter-final win demanding he mark a victory over the Three Lions in style. “We’re already thinking about our plan for Thursday – if we win, I need to ask the R&A if I can do some stuff,” Pulcini told Sky Sports. Kick-off in Wednesday’s semi-final is 8pm UK time, with the winner advancing to Sunday’s final, and Pulcini is backing his compatriots for a 2-1 win, adding that Messi “isn’t good” from the penalty spot but is “the GOAT” in every other respect.
England’s Major Contenders Face Their Own Kick-Off Dilemma
The timing is no less awkward for the 21 Englishmen in the field who would love nothing more than to silence Pulcini’s plans. Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick have all spoken this week about squeezing in the match around preparation for the season’s final major, with Rose already detailing his own hopes of a “lovely double” for English sport this week.
The R&A has not been drawn on specifics, but chief executive Mark Darbon has said organisers will “try and avoid” a clash between Sunday’s final round and a potential World Cup final, with reports suggesting tee times could be adjusted if England progress that far. For now, attention turns to Wednesday evening, with the Open field only completing its final practice laps at Royal Birkdale before Thursday’s 6.35am first tee shot.
Pulcini, who qualified via his amateur championship win, is one of several storylines running alongside the build-up detailed in Wednesday’s Open Eve briefing from Royal Birkdale, as the sport shares the spotlight with Southport’s football-mad crowds this week.
