Waiting to see our MESSIah

June 14, 2006

Three points in the bag. Watching every team in the World Cup play (including our mighty neighbours, the Brazilians), I’ve got say in our day, we can beat anyone.

There are, however, a lot of perils and hidden enemies in every corner. With the same scenario (a narrow win against an African team in our debut and playing in the ‘Group of Death’) we faced England four years ago and we lost 1-0 (Beckham from the penalty spot) and then we crashed dramatically with a draw against Sweden in the third match.

Now there are people looking very confident with our team and to some extent they are underestimating Serbia & Montenegro. I’m not one of them. I do feel confident and I like our team, but for no reason in this world, I’ll count the three points against Serbia & Montenegro before the final whistle.

If we do that, then we will have to look no further than to ourselves to look for our most dangerous enemy. I think in a way, José PEKERMAN did it against Ivory Coast. With a lot of water still running in the second half, he made a couple of conservative substitutions and we ended up risking a result we worked very hard to get in the first half.

The latest news in our preparation for this Friday’s crucial second group match are the probable inclusion of Luis ‘Lucho’ GONZALEZ in the starting line-up. He’ll replace Esteban CAMBIASSO in an attempt to improve what was our weakest link against Ivory Coast: midfield.

Lucho GONZALEZ will leave more room for MASCHERANO in the centre of the field for him to do what he does best: run around stopping opposing midfielders and stealing a lot of balls.

Skipper Juan Pablo SORIN will help out also in midfield so Lucho GONZALEZ and Maxi RODRIGUEZ will have a little more liberty trying to run forward and help RIQUELME-SAVIOLA and CRESPO. This trio is confirmed and they will play again from the start.

I expect Serbia & Montenegro to feel the need to do what they didn’t against Holland: attack from the start.

The Serbs’ main strength during their qualifying campaign was their defense (only 1 goal conceded –against Spain in Spain!-) and based on that solid back line, they punished with thunderous counter attacks, finished often by Mateja KEZMAN and Savo MILOSEVIC.

Without Nemanja VIDIC (Manchester United), injured for the rest of the World Cup and with some controversies between the manager and his players, they could find in Argentina, a very good incentive to ‘galvanise’ and play without any fear. Those are the most dangerous opponents A draw won’t be a good result for any of the two teams, but it would definitely harm the Serbs’ chances a little bit more than ours. Will they risk to attack Argentina from the start and free their midfielders to send them forward leaving their backs uncovered? Will they wait and see what Argentina proposes? I think no matter what, Argentina has to respect history this time and attack from the very first second. We have to control the ball and the pace of the game and victory will be ours.

I’ve been receiving a lot of messages (muchas gracias! Messages from Indonesia, Somalia, USA, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Australia, people from India, Colombia and Trinidad & Tobago –come on Soca Warriors!- living in the States! Thank you very much for your e-mails) and in most of them there is one question that still has no answer: will Lionel MESSI play in this World Cup?

Carlos Tevez Lionel Messi Argentina — Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez training with Argentina during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

This afternoon (June 14th) he had to leave the training session with a knock in his left foot but apparently it is not serious and he will be able to play against Serbia & Montenegro if PEKERMAN wants it. I feel the time has come. I feel he will jump to the field at some point during the second half, no matter the result or the circumstances. If we are winning comfortably, to make his debut and gain a precious experience. If we can’t break their defense, to try and do it through his amazing pace and mercurial talent. And if we are losing, because he is the best talent in our team and people will want to have a word or two with PEKERMAN if MESSI is nowhere to be seen in the field.

Will you watch the game? Will you skip a day at the office to follow Argentina? Are you superstitious? Do you have your rituals?

I’ll be watching it. Waking up very early in the morning (kick-off is at 10 AM but I want to see all the previous shows starting probably at 7 AM!). We’ll be four people in front of the TV and I expect a thousand screams (hope they are all for the good reasons!) and a lot less food for breakfast (can you eat before the match????).

I can’t wait for Friday! Bring it on!

VAMOS ARGENTINA!

Living in the Group of Death

Roy Nemer

June 10, 2006

Argentina 2 – Ivory Coast 1
Ever since we knew Ivory Coast was in our group and we had to play our first game against them, we thought the worst things you can imagine. After beating them in Hamburg today I can say that WE WERE RIGHT TO DO SO!

That makes this win even sweeter. I hate to hear people in Buenos Aires saying that Ivory Coast was not a real test and that they didn’t have a good side at all. That’s a tendency we have in Argentina. If we win, the rival was weak. If we lose, we are rubbish. I hate that. And I’m starting to see it once again.

I have to say, however, that Argentina was superior during the first half and we went up 2-0 deservingly.
After a shaky start and some very tense legs (specially in our midfielders), we started taking control of the game. RIQUELME was clinical in the way he led our offense and we had Ivory Coast on their back foot.

I met up with my friends from college (10 years after and for our 3rd World Cup in a row!) and we all jumped with our hands to the air when AYALA headed the ball towards the goal and TIZIE (in my opinion) stopped it behind the line. That would have been 1-0 to Argentina and a little bit of calm would have followed. The referee and his linesman didn’t see it, so it was play on.

A few minutes after that controversial play, RIQUELME sent the ball to the box and after a lucky rebound, Hernan CRESPO sent our country into delirium! That’s the essence of the strikers: being in the right place at the right time.

We saw our best football after that and it was clear our team was leaving behind the anxiety. SAVIOLA was one of PEKERMAN’s bets and he paid out big time for our manager in a moment of brilliance by RIQUELME. When Javier ran towards the goal, Roman sent a perfect pass behind the defense and the former Sevilla striker sent it home with a lovely first touch.

2-0 and we were ready to party. But the substitutions PEKERMAN made in the second half were our biggest mistake.

With ten minutes into the second half I said to my friends: ‘Despite the result, Ivory Coast is playing a great game!’ That means they needed no help. They logically started to throw attackers to the field (DINDANE, KONE) and we took them out! PALACIO in for CRESPO had little to discuss. One striker out, one speedy forward in. Maybe to open up some spaces and take advantage of PALACIO’s pace on the flanks. But to take SAVIOLA out and replace him with Luis GONZALEZ was a bad move. I guess PEKERMAN tried to add somebody who could win a couple of battles in midfield and help RIQUELME in keeping possession of the ball. But in reality, the result was awful. We never played the way we could and we let Ivory Coast to believe and to try and go for a fantastic comeback. To make matters worst, everybody in the stadium (apart from the big mass of Argentines –with Diego MARADONA leading the lot!-) started to support the Africans and to boo our players.

That led to DROGBA’s equaliser and almost 10 minutes of the same old fear we felt ever since the World Cup draw took place. We were horrible during those last minutes and we could have ended up the day in tears and crying for blowing up a 2-goal lead.

3 points are in the Bank now and that’s a very good thing in the Group of Death. Goal difference could have been better, but at least we won.

MESSI, TEVEZ, AIMAR are still to play and to have them fresh and willing to show the World what they are capable of makes me feel positive too.

Now I can’t wait for next Friday (and Serbia & Montenegro) to come!

To finish this wrap up of the game, I’m going to pick my man of the match and I’ll give a few extra mentions:

Man of the match:
Gold:

Javier SAVIOLA. Fast on and off the ball. Fantastic finish to put Argentina 2-0 and very handy to help RIQUELME in the creative aspects of the game.

Silver:
Roberto AYALA. Rock solid to control DROGBA. Had a goal not seen by the referee and made no mistakes during the whole game.

Bronze:
Roberto ABBONDANZIERI. With a thousand critics breathing in his neck and waiting for him to drop the ball or concede an easy goal, he came out with his best performance in our National Team, made a great save and started a couple of counter attacks with some impressive long passes.

Best of the rest:
CRESPO scored and that’s all you ask from your strikers. RIQUELME had a assist and that could prove vital and even win you a game in tournaments like the World Cup.

Time to Tango!

Seba

June 10, 2006

Argentina is set to face Ivory Coast to start the action in Group C. The line-up has been confirmed and people will have to wait if they want to see Carlos TEVEZ and Lionel MESSI in action.

ABBONDANZIERI will be between the three posts and this is his great chance to prove his critics wrong and start gaining some confidence.

A back line formed by BURDISSO, AYALA and HEINZE trying to control Didier DROGBA and either KALOU or DINDANE (whoever Henri MICHEL decides to pick to help the Chelsea hitman upfront).

Juan Pablo SORIN will start as a left back but will join the midfielders and eventually will end up helping the striking force. In other words, he will be his usual self and will run all over the pitch, depending on the result and the nature of the game.

CAMBIASSO and MASCHERANO will have defensive duties in midfield, covering Maxi RODRIGUEZ and RIQUELME’s backs. These two will be more involved on offense. Specially, star playmaker RIQUELME. I think if he manages to find his rhythm and put the ball under his right foot, Argentina will have reasons to smile after the match.

Javier SAVIOLA will be Hernan CRESPO’s partner up front and will try and win the battle against a tough Ivorian back line through speed and first touches. In case he can’t do it, PEKERMAN can use TEVEZ and/or MESSI to help out.

CRESPO will have a special ingredient to his first start in a World Cup match (this is his 3rd World Cup but he was a substitute of legendary Gabriel BATISTUTA in France 98 and Korea-Japan 2002), this will be a head-to-head fight between Chelsea strikers: DROGBA vs. CRESPO. They started to share the field a little bit more in the last few months of the Premiership last season and this could be the first time they’ll be on the pitch for the entire match. Only this time they’ll be wearing different colours and they won’t be smiling at each other after the kick-off.

Plenty of things to look forward to.

I remember Italy ‘90 and Argentina being defeated by an impressive Cameroon side. In USA ‘94 we defeated Nigeria 2-1 but it was the second group match. The Super Eagles got their revenge when they beat us 3-2 in the Gold Medal Match at Atlanta ‘96. Then in France ‘98 we didn’t have African opposition and it was Nigeria again in 2002. That was another World Cup debut for us and BATISTUTA gave us the winner to start what we though was going to be a great campaign and instead…ended up in tears. Let’s hope for a similar result today, but a different outcome for our stay in Germany. May it be long and pleasant!

I’m not one to forecast results. There is a little bit of superstition in me so forgive me if I’m not brave enough to give you my prediction.

Before I finish, I would like to thank each and every one of you who have been in touch with me by e-mail. Your views have been great and we share a lot of concepts regarding our players, our tactics and our chances in this World Cup.
Thanks to you, this time I will think of those hundreds and hundreds of Argentina fans living in every corner of the World and supporting the ‘Albiceleste’ with real determination and unrivalled passion!

You have put my National Team on a new perspective in my eyes and again, thank you for that!

I want to have your thoughts on Argentina’s performance once the match is over and how and where did you watch the match wherever you are in the World!

VAMOS ARGENTINA!

A World Cup country

Seba

June 8, 2006

As the debut against Ivory Coast gets closer and closer and PEKERMAN looks almost sure to start with SAVIOLA and CRESPO up front, I would like to invite you to play a little game with me. Are you ready? OK, here we go:

Imagine Carlos TEVEZ asking the crowd for support, then running at high speed with nobody around him and the whole stadium preparing to celebrate as he jumps before the defining moment. Picture Juan Pablo SORIN ready to dive (er…hmmm…yeah…you know…we are from Argentina!) as every single spectator hold his breath waiting for the judge verdict. Now close your eyes and think of Roberto AYALA in his very own elegant style, waltzing through the Ivory Coast front line after coolly dispossessing them. And finally, here´s Lionel MESSI, swinging up and down like if he had wheels instead of studs under his boots.

I won´t ask you for much more things to imagine. Just try and figure what could happen if all the things you’ve pictured in your brain throughout the first paragraph DON’T take place in a football pitch but in several different sporting stages? What could happen if these four excellent players where not football icons but something else?

I know, I know, unless you´re out of your mind, you don´t understand a single word I´m saying. Need help? Check out this link and see what I mean:

Those words in the end of this TV commercial clearly say: “Lo de ellos es el fútbol. Vamos Argentina” (Their stuff is football. Come on Argentina).

This is just one little example of what you can see if you watch TV in Argentina these days.

Screens all over our country are invaded by football and temperature is rising as the World Cup Fever approaches its climax.

24-hour coverage is a must for the biggest sports channels in Argentina and you can see some journalist broadcasting live at 11 PM (Buenos Aires) while they are in Germany, awake at from Germany at 4 AM and with only a few hours before another training session starts for Argentina in the tiny German town called (here I go…) Herzogenaurach (Thank you spell check!).

Even the gossip shows are all about the World Cup these days. You see people totally not interested in football, all of a sudden wearing Argentina´s colours and talking about MESSI, TEVEZ and RIQUELME.

I’m glad it is like that. I would hate to live in a country where the World Cup is ignored completely. I would also hate to see what happened in 2002 here in Argentina, when if you didn´t have satellital TV with those giant dishes only money can buy, you were out of the action.

This time around, all of the World Cup matches will be broadcasted (granted it’ll be through cable TV, but it’s very easy to have access to it in Argentina) and whenever Argentina plays, everybody will be able to watch it live in all of our 5 public TV stations (plus one cable channel). That means if you don´t want to watch Argentina in this World Cup and you are in our country in June-July, you better turn the TV off and go for a walk in the park…I can guarantee you…nobody will bother you!

Just try and don´t bother us, the real football people, OK?

The first and only test match

Seba

May 31, 2006

With a little more than a week to go, Argentina defeated Angola 2-0 in our only friendly match before the World Cup.

It was a positive test and the most important thing is that we had no injuries to regret and some of our key players seem to be recovering their form.

Angola are not the rivals that will put you under a real, dangerous, tricky test. We won’t be facing a team as weak as Angola in the first round, let alone the following stages in Germany 2006, so it was not a matter of Argentina using Angola to create antibody to use against Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro or Holland. Angola was more of a sparring partner than anything else. Argentina needed to see if Gabriel HEINZE was 100% recovered from his knee injury, to see if Lionel MESSI was ready to run at defenders the way he used to and at the same time, to see if the rest of the team is in good form.

Based on what Argentina showed tonight, I can say that we have more than a few positive aspects and very few worrying things.

On the bright side of life we saw a solid defensive line that can adapt to different situations during a game and play with three or four men (with SORIN playing as a midfielder, leaving BURDISSO, AYALA and HEINZE behind when Argentina is in possession).

A couple of restless retrievers in MASCHERANO and CAMBIASSO in midfield, and the ever-present Maxi RODRIGUEZ running up and down the right hand side of the field.

RIQUELME is supposed to be the axis in which all the clever football and the through passes are supposed to come to life. Unfortunately this time he was not a factor and he couldn’t finish none of the attempts he had against Angola. His critics talk about his lack of speed but that’s exactly one of the things I think can be counted as RIQUELME’s attribute. We can name 100 players with lots of pace and stamina, but RIQUELME can be lethal when Argentina are winning and need to keep control of the ball or simply when what you need is someone to rule the pace of the game and dictate the way your team should attack by discovering the opposition’s weaknesses. He was unable to do it against Angola, but he is capable of doing it any day of the week. Plus, there are people saying Argentina rely only on RIQUELME, and the fact that PEKERMAN’s team was able to overcome a bad night by the Villarreal’s playmaker is another positive sign.

SAVIOLA and CRESPO didn’t score, but they played well. But the best news came in the second half when Lionel MESSI had the chance to play a few minutes. He is recovering from an injury sustained against Chelsea in March and I’m happy to see that he appeared to have shaken it away. He was mercurial tonight and when AIMAR came close to him, we were able to witness some sensational moves and a potential partnership to be used during the second half of each game at the World Cup.

Carlos TEVEZ is another of the strong weapons Argentina have up front and he only played 15 minutes tonight, but don’t count him out.

Angola might not be as strong as Ivory Coast, but if on June 10th at Hamburg, Argentina manage to play the level of football we’re capable of playing there should be plenty of chances to earn all three points in our World Cup debut.

1...1,3791,3801,381 Page 1,380 of 1,381