Argentine footballer feels 'privileged' to carry Olympic torch

BUENOS AIRES, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Argentine soccer player Andres D'Alessandro, gold medallist in Athens 2004, said on Wednesday that it is "an enormous privilege" to carry the Beijing Olympic torch on Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital.

D'Alessandro told Xinhua after training with San Lorenzo club, that the relay is very important for Argentina.

D'Alessandro said China's national soccer team "has progressed very much" and recalled Argentina's 2-1 victory over China in the 2001 under-20 world soccer championship quarter-finals.

"It was one of the most difficult games we had played during the tournament," he said.