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Lionel Messi and Argentina in tune at last despite tough start to World Cup Lionel Messi and Argentina in tune at last despite tough start to World Cup
(about 4 hours later)
Diego Maradona had just departed when Lionel Messi arrived. The clock was ticking down in Argentina’s second match and Maradona was probably wondering why he had bothered. It had taken him four years to come and see the national team live and now here they were, drawing 0-0 with Iran. That was when Diego decided to leave; and that was when Messi appeared, scoring a superb goal to win the match.Diego Maradona had just departed when Lionel Messi arrived. The clock was ticking down in Argentina’s second match and Maradona was probably wondering why he had bothered. It had taken him four years to come and see the national team live and now here they were, drawing 0-0 with Iran. That was when Diego decided to leave; and that was when Messi appeared, scoring a superb goal to win the match.
It was the 90th minute. It was also his second goal at this World Cup in two games. Two goals, both of them brilliant, both of them winners, two victories and six points. Argentina have one more match left, on Wednesday night against Nigeria, but they were already heading to the next round. Messi had carried them there. It was the 90th minute. It was also his second goal at this World Cup in two games. Two goals, both of them brilliant, both of them winners, two victories and six points. Argentina have one more match left, night against Nigeria, but they were already heading to the next round. Messi had carried them there.
“Luckily, the little guy rubbed the lamp and we won the game,” said the Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. As Alejandro Sabella, the manager, put it: “With Messi, everything’s possible.” Including, dare they say it, winning the World Cup. And in Brazil, too. In the stands, fans who had crossed the border were going wild, singing their own version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising.“Luckily, the little guy rubbed the lamp and we won the game,” said the Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. As Alejandro Sabella, the manager, put it: “With Messi, everything’s possible.” Including, dare they say it, winning the World Cup. And in Brazil, too. In the stands, fans who had crossed the border were going wild, singing their own version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Bad Moon Rising.
Another song recalls the 1990 World Cup and gloats about what they imagine to be a successful invasion this summer. It runs: “Brazil, tell me how it feels / to have daddy in your home / I swear that even as the years go by / We’ll never forget / How Diego dribbled / And Cani[ggia] stuck the needle in / you’ve been crying since Italy until today / You’ll see Messi / Bring the cup back to us / Maradona is greater than Pelé.” Another song recalls the 1990 World Cup and gloats about what they imagine to be a successful invasion this summer. It runs: “Brazil, tell me how it feels / to have daddy in your home / I swear that even as the years go by / We’ll never forget / How Diego dribbled / And Cani[ggia] stuck the needle in / you’ve been crying since Italy until today / You’ll see Messi / Bring the cup back to us / Maradona is greater than Pelé.”
Maradona being better than Pelé is standard fare; it is the inclusion of Messi that stands out. Previously dismissed as more Catalan than Argentinian – he moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 and the received wisdom was that he rarely produced his club form for his country, some accusing him of not even trying to – things have changed.Maradona being better than Pelé is standard fare; it is the inclusion of Messi that stands out. Previously dismissed as more Catalan than Argentinian – he moved to Barcelona at the age of 13 and the received wisdom was that he rarely produced his club form for his country, some accusing him of not even trying to – things have changed.
For Messi, it has been all about the World Cup; this season the accusation has come from the other side. Now, it is the Argentinians who cling to him and some Catalans who wondered if, this season, he cared; now Argentinian hopes resides in him and they trust that he will fulfil them. He leads a fearsome forward line in a fragile team. So far he has led more than even they could have imagined. For Messi, it has been all about the World Cup; this season the accusation has come from the other side. Now, it is the Argentinians who cling to him and some Catalans who wondered if, this season, he cared; now Argentinian hopes reside in him and they trust that he will fulfil them. He leads a fearsome forward line in a fragile team. So far he has led more than even they could have imagined.
One refrain has been repeated over and over in Catalonia this season: Messi is reserving himself for the World Cup. When he was injured in January some doubted the gravity and even the veracity of his ailments, as he returned to Argentina to recover. The need was emotional as well as physical. It also came with a clear target: full fitness fore Brazil.One refrain has been repeated over and over in Catalonia this season: Messi is reserving himself for the World Cup. When he was injured in January some doubted the gravity and even the veracity of his ailments, as he returned to Argentina to recover. The need was emotional as well as physical. It also came with a clear target: full fitness fore Brazil.
This has been a difficult season for Messi, his worst in five years, even if he did go over 40 goals again. It was been marked by injury, accusation and conflict with the Barcelona board. The taxman chased him and he accused one director of “knowing nothing about football”. From any player that would be remarkable; for the man who team-mates at under-14 level called el mudo, the mute one, it is even more startling. There is no doubt that Messi has been unhappy and the pressure built. Priorities lay elsewhere; at the end of the season was the World Cup, the occasion that would define him for ever. This has been a difficult season for Messi, his worst in five years, even if he did score over 40 goals again. It was marked by injury, accusation and conflict with the Barcelona board. The taxman chased him and he accused one director of “knowing nothing about football”. From any player that would be remarkable; for the man who team-mates at under-14 level called el mudo, the mute one, it is even more startling. There is no doubt that Messi has been unhappy and the pressure built. Priorities lay elsewhere; at the end of the season was the World Cup, the occasion that would define him forever.
From an Argentinian point of view, that Maradona is better than Pelé goes without saying; a far more vexed question was whether Messi could actually be better than both of them. A World Cup in Brazil is the ultimate World Cup and for Messi this is the ultimate test. He is 26, the same age that Maradona turned in October 1986. Those debates could only be settled this way; matching el Diego is impossible without a World Cup, still less surpassing him. When Diego departed during the Iran game, Messi appeared. For those who wanted to see it, the symbolism was inescapable. From an Argentinian point of view, that Maradona is better than Pelé goes without saying; a far more vexed question was whether Messi could actually be better than both of them. A World Cup in Brazil is the ultimate World Cup and for Messi this is the ultimate test. He is 26, the same age that Maradona turned in October 1986. Those debates could only be settled this way; matching el Diego is impossible without a World Cup, still less surpassing him. When Diego departed during the Iran game, Messi appeared. For those who wanted to see it, the symbolism was inescapable.
The winner against Iran was Messi’s 40th goal for Argentina. He had been their top scorer in qualifying and it was his second goal of the 2014 World Cup. When he scored in the opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was his first World Cup goal since 16 June 2006, when he scored the side’s sixth against Serbia & Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen. He had not found the net once in South Africa in 2010; when Argentina were knocked out by Germany he had not even had a shot on target.The winner against Iran was Messi’s 40th goal for Argentina. He had been their top scorer in qualifying and it was his second goal of the 2014 World Cup. When he scored in the opening game against Bosnia-Herzegovina, it was his first World Cup goal since 16 June 2006, when he scored the side’s sixth against Serbia & Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen. He had not found the net once in South Africa in 2010; when Argentina were knocked out by Germany he had not even had a shot on target.
His goal against Bosnia secured a victory that had looked precarious; his goal against Iran secured a victory that had appeared impossible. Two wonderful strikes have disguised how poorly Argentina have played; a case could be made for saying that they have disguised the fact that Messi has not yet been dominant either. When you can win games like this, that matters little. Debates are put on hold. As Jorge Valdano, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 1986, put it, Messi had produced “the play that rescued [Argentina’s] play”.His goal against Bosnia secured a victory that had looked precarious; his goal against Iran secured a victory that had appeared impossible. Two wonderful strikes have disguised how poorly Argentina have played; a case could be made for saying that they have disguised the fact that Messi has not yet been dominant either. When you can win games like this, that matters little. Debates are put on hold. As Jorge Valdano, a World Cup winner with Argentina in 1986, put it, Messi had produced “the play that rescued [Argentina’s] play”.
After the first game Messi had been clear, publicly appealing for Fernando Gago to be included in the side. “In the first half I struggled to get the ball and when I did I was a long way from goal,” he said. “I understand Gago very well and when he came on we had the ball and I could go further forward.” A public a pronouncement was unexpected but it spoke of his status, the clarity of his intentions. After the first game Messi had been clear, publicly appealing for Fernando Gago to be included in the side. “In the first half I struggled to get the ball and when I did I was a long way from goal,” he said. “I understand Gago very well and when he came on we had the ball and I could go further forward.” As public a pronouncement was unexpected but it spoke of his status, the clarity of his intentions.
Sabella listened, insisting that Messi’s public pronouncement did not annoy him “at all”, and Gago was included for the second match. In front of Messi were Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín. Unlike the formation at Barcelona; he was more a no. 10 than a false 9. That was what he had wanted but still it did not entirely convince. On one level, talk of systems seemed flawed: there was not a system. Messi is the system. For now, it has been enough but time will tell if it continues to be. Sabella listened, insisting that Messi’s public pronouncement did not annoy him “at all”, and Gago was included for the second match. In front of Messi were Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín. Unlike the formation at Barcelona; he was more a No10 than a false 9. That was what he had wanted but still it did not entirely convince. On one level, talk of systems seemed flawed: there was not a system. Messi is the system. For now, it has been enough but time will tell if it continues to be so.
Argentina did not perform well against Iran. Messi did not always do so either. He lacked acceleration, explosiveness, the change of pace that tricks defenders. But then he produced the game’s most decisive moment at the game’s most decisive moment. “Not even two goalkeepers would have stopped that,” Sabella said. Every single Iranian player was between him and the goal but still the ball evaded them all. Argentina did not perform well against Iran. Messi did not always do so either. He lacked acceleration, explosiveness, the change of pace that tricks defenders. But then he produced the game’s most decisive moment at the most crucial moment of the game. “Not even two goalkeepers would have stopped that,” Sabella said. Every single Iranian player was between him and the goal but still the ball evaded them all.
Valdano described Messi as walking, not running. He wrote: “Argentina have still not found themselves as a team and Messi has still not found the play. While Argentina tries to appear, a single play is enough for Messi to put the debate over the functioning of the team on hold and confirm his status as a genius … his lack of mobility contrasts with his mental clarity.” Valdano described Messi as walking, not running. He wrote: “Argentina have still not found themselves as a team and Messi has still not found the play. While Argentina tries to appear, a single play is enough for Messi to put the debate over the functioning of the team on hold and confirm his status as a genius … his lack of mobility contrasts with his mental clarity.”
As Javier Mascherano put it, a hint of reproach lacing his eulogy: “We did not string any passes together, we weren’t precise and we didn’t break them down. But that’s what Messi has: when he does not appear much, when he does not have that shining aura, he goes and wins the game in one move.”As Javier Mascherano put it, a hint of reproach lacing his eulogy: “We did not string any passes together, we weren’t precise and we didn’t break them down. But that’s what Messi has: when he does not appear much, when he does not have that shining aura, he goes and wins the game in one move.”
“We could beat Argentina,” Iran’s coach, Carlos Queiroz, said, “but we couldn’t beat Leo Messi.”“We could beat Argentina,” Iran’s coach, Carlos Queiroz, said, “but we couldn’t beat Leo Messi.”