Former Argentina National Team coach Alfio BASILE wrote about Gonzalo HIGUAIN, the chance he missed in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, Lionel MESSI, Jorge SAMPAOLI and Marcelo BIELSA.
In Alfio BASILE’s latest autobiography, the former two time Copa America winning coach commented on HIGUAIN’s infamous miss. In the book called “Generación Lio”, BASILE also spoke about Jorge SAMPAOLI (and how he doesn’t know him), Lionel MESSI himself and Marcelo BIELSA. Here’s what he had to say:
“Of all the players, the one that was most singled out by the people for blame was Gonzalo HIGUAIN. They do not want him in their squad because when that World Cup is remembered, the chance he missed at the start is what cost us the title.
“The truth is that it’s difficult to explain what happened to him, because suddenly he was unmarked, had the ball at his feet and was 20 metres from goal with every option open to him and could place the ball anywhere, but instead the mist descended and he fired it wide.
“It’s not good to say that he soiled himself, but that’s basically what happened. He was weighed down by the responsibility of realising he was about to score the goal that gave Argentina the World Cup and would gain immortality.”
Alfio BASILE on Jorge SAMPAOLI:
“SAMPAOLI, in the group of coaches, no one knows him. Because between us, among colleagues, we all know each other. We always see each other in meetings in the different countries in South America but he was never in any of them. It’s amazing how he got the Argentina National Team job. He got it only because he won the Copa America with Chile by beating us. Only then did I find out who he was…”
Alfio BASILE on Marcelo BIELSA:
“BIELSA is the most marketed coach in the world. More than GUARDIOLA and MOURINHO put together. He manages mediocre teams that don’t have the obligation of being champions. How is it that when he took Lille, all of a sudden they even started televising the training sessions.”
Alfio BASILE on Lionel MESSI:
“MESSI is an alien. When I was coach, the “friends club” didn’t exist. At least, at that time it didn’t…”
