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July 12th, 2007 | By: Messay Getahun | 13 Comments »

For as long as I can remember, Brazil have been held as the gold standard in professional football. With a swash-buckling style and a seemingly endless supply of genuinely world class players, they have at times simply brushed the opposition aside on the grandest stage of them all, The World Cup.

They are what nations have aspired to be on the football pitch, playing with grace and beauty as they overwhelm their inevitably less talented opponents. With players such as Kaka and Ronaldinho still in their peak years, and exciting new stars like Robinho coming to prominence all the time, it would seem perhaps a tad strange to suggest that now is the time for a new super-power to emerge and be the envy of footballing nations worldwide.

But it is a claim I make, nonetheless.

Step forward, Argentina.

While it would be easy to spend time extolling the virtues of players like Messi, Tevez, Riquelme and Mascherano, to name but a few, it is not simply the great players they have at their disposal now that makes them so fearsome.

Football has changed the last 10 years or so. There is more emphasis now than ever on fitness and tactics in the game. Gone, despite the impressions given to us at St. James’ Park the last few years, are the days of putting 11 square pegs in 11 square holes and saying “Go out and play football.” In its place we’ve been introduced to severe attention to detail and the need for a strong work ethic in teams.

This is where the Argentinians will overtake the Brazilians.

Anyone who, like me, has been lucky enough to have a severe dose of the flu over the last couple of weeks will have seen some of the football Argentina have played in this year’s Copa America. The passing and movement has been phenomenal, players working and moving as a team as opposed to what we’ve been served by their Brazilian counterparts, which seems like little more than directionless ball retention while they wait for one of their impact players to do something special.

You could argue that the Brazilians are not at full strength, but one need only look at last year’s World Cup for proof that this is as much a result of mentality and tactics as it is what particular players are on the pitch. While Brazil’s much lauded all-stars stumbled through the World Cup, Ronaldinho proving totally ineffective throughout due to not being able to influence the game in dangerous positions, before eventually going out with a whimper, Argentina produced by far the best football the tournament saw.

Cambiasso’s goal against Serbia and Montenegro in the group stages is one of the greatest goals ever scored, and for me is the perfect representation of what modern day football should be all about. Players constantly moving, showing for the ball in midfield. Patient build up, one-touch football that gradually drags the opposition out of position and allows runners from midfield to exploit the space.

In defence, they also possess a toughness not common in their Brazilian counterparts, which stops teams from having any chance of bullying them off the pitch. Once they’ve matched their opponents physically, their talents on the ball will inevitably start to show and win them the game.

You could very easily ask the question ‘If they were so good, how did they get knocked out by Germany?’

Anyone who saw that particular match, however, will know that Germany only progressed due to a truly baffling display by the former Argentina manager who, with his team 1-0 up and looking good value to go on and put the game to bed, bizarrely proceeded to substitute Riquelme and replace him with a holding midfield player. With Argentina’s main man out of the picture, the game evened up a bit. With ten minutes to go Pekerman, the Argentinian coach, made his last change, replacing Crespo with Cruz, a like for like swap.

Inevitably, Germany got a lucky break and scored the goal to send it to extra time and then penalties. Not only were Argentina without Riquelme for the crucial extra-time period, but they had also used up all their subs and couldn’t bring on Lionel Messi, who had been explosive throughout the tournament.

From 1-0 up and coasting to out on penalties, I firmly believe that it was only such a managerial catastrophe that could have prevented them from winning that World Cup. It’s a lesson that I don’t expect will soon be forgotten, and with players like Messi and Tevez set to provide the spark for years to come, I would expect Argentina’s wait for a World Cup trophy won’t be too much longer.

- an english man named shak

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Comments

By iaj | July 12th, 2007 at 4:39 am

‘beautiful football’ is a ‘beautiful team game’ rathar than a ’show of some individual brilliance’. Yes, its true that u need individual brilliance to excel as a team. But ‘beautiful game’ is something more than that. From that point, without any doubt Argentina is the team that really plays the beautiful game today. If u see Brazil of ‘70 or ‘82, u know they really played beautifully (as a team). But Brazil since the ’90s have only shown some outstanding talent, not a total team game. That they have done very well in recent world cups (except 2006) is because they had some extra-ordinary players and finishers like romario, ronaldo, rivaldo, ronaldinho; not because they played beautifully as a team. Look at Argentina in the world cup 2006 or this copa america, u know this is the team that is playing the real ‘beautiful team football’. And the fact that Argentina didn’t go on to win the cup’06 does not take anything away from them. Brazil team in ‘82 didn’t win the cup — that doesn’t make them a worse team than those they had in ‘94 or ‘02.
Watch out for Argentina in 2010. I just hope Riquelme is there. He is so important. He plays the pivotal role in this team.

Posted from Bangladesh

By anand | July 12th, 2007 at 5:28 am

The important thing about this team is its cohisiveness. You have veterans as well as rookies who clearly appreciates ones strenghts and weeknesses and forget all their egos on the field. How many times have we already seen the trip of romy, messi and tevez quite un selfishly set up each other for one of those goals, even the numerous build ups those didnt end up in goal, it was quite evident. I felt tears in my eyes when roman scored that opener agaisnt Peru and instead of hugging his teammates on the field, moved to the bench and called every one from their to celebrate…and then when he scored the 4th goal, the tight hug he gave for tevez who did all the hardwork behind that goal and even, a yesterdays bitter friend Veron kissing him for his feat. Its a remarkable bunch of characters out there and there will be no justice in this world if they dont get to lift this copa!

Posted from India

By anand | July 12th, 2007 at 5:36 am

As seen on tribalfootball—

Villarreal midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme wants to continue his career in Argentina.

Riquelme spent six months on-loan at Boca Juniors and is being touted around Europe by Villarreal during this summer’s market.

“They want me in Germany, the United States and other countries,” said Riquelme. “But to change countries and languages would not be the best. I have a family and my first priority is to them.

“My daughter is nine years of age and she has told me that she’d like to stay in Argentina.”

—-true men…..

Posted from India

By anand | July 12th, 2007 at 5:57 am

Copied from the blog:
http://theemptyvessel.wordpress.com/2007/07/12/football-in-free-verse/

At kick-off they pass the ball sweetly to the defence. They pass it around for sometime, as if to let the opposition elicit their last wishes. For what follows is poetry. With a bit of tango thrown in. That’s the way it has always been and today’s Copa America semi-final against Mexico was no different. Vive Argentina: football in free verse!

The first half was decidedly insipid by the Argentine standards. They passed the ball around, mostly in the midfield marshalled by a certain Juan Sebastian Veron. The defence was up to the task whenever called for action, with captain Ayala being in the very thick of it. Nevertheless it was unceremonious. Until that moment of magic from none other than Juan Román Riquelme: a free-kick that seemed awfully out of target, dipping precariously, drawing the goalkeeper out of position and landing on the right foot of Gabriel Heinze who drove it home without fuss. That was how the first ended.

The next forty-five saw what could succinctly be described in one word: chutzpah! What vision in passing; what skill, with a single Tevez out-running every defender in the Mexican ranks; what disdain in the ball control of Riquelme, what exuberance in the skill of the indomitable Lionel Messi. And a million short passes to rejoice the simple pleasures of life.

The second goal of the match was more than just a goal; it was audacity in fluid motion. It seemed for Messi, with a couple of defenders by his side, and the goalkeeper rushing towards him as he approached the box, scoring was just incidental. What mattered more was how; and how? A prodigious chip that saw the three Mexicans stranded agape and awestruck.

The final goal from the penalty spot was no less spunky. Riquelme who could have tore the net apart, chose again the immaculate chip. The ball sailing to the back of the net, almost with a song on its lips, leaving the keeper prostrate at the posts with nowhere to hide.

The thing about Argentine football is that it forces you into believing that it’s all too easy, like the free verse. Yet you can hardly ignore the brilliance. The indolence of their passes, the parsimony at sharing the ball, the egotism at control and tackle - everything so distinctly middle-class, if I may use the word. The genius, I feel, lies in celebrating their suchness and with what aplomb!

Posted from India

By bionic messi | July 12th, 2007 at 6:29 am

Brazil will continue producing great players however it is the style of football that brazil stopped to play after 82 that makes them tasteless….i don’t enjoy brazil games any more…..i liked brazil in 94 because of romario and his class only and not because of carlos alberto periera dumb style…other than that, all players since then are machines…they can shine in a good attacking football system like ronaldinho in barca but under brazil nowadays tactics he is a disaster.

for the sake of the game…argentina must win the worldcup with this style…it is the only remaining “Advocate” of the pretty football..and to some extent the remaining total football played by the dutch (maybe only barca still playes this kind of game on a high level).

if an ugly team like italy wins the coming worldcup with defensive style of no creativity…sooner or later argentena will forget thier style and shift to the mainstream like brazil did to win WC in 94…i hope this never happens…i mean loosing of course!!

Posted from Saudi Arabia

By anand | July 12th, 2007 at 6:50 am

Bionic messi, I dont think that will happen too fast..and I dont think argentina will win a worldcup with this style immediately too..but from the above posts and references we have seen so far, the style is winning hearts and it will continue to do so…what it will bring is more marketing potential and better media recognition. Accepting that it brings its own evil with it, you cannot under estimate its communicative effect in preaching a style that is appealing to the masses. Valdano made controvercy when he stated the “shit hung from anfield roof” and there will be more voices like that in the coming future. Chelsia is unhappy with the Maurinho spell not because of the trophies but because of his inability to win hearts and thus indirectly more marketing money. Madrid chucked Capello even after winning the Liga coz he didnt win it in style. A lot of countries and clubs look at football from all these directions. You will find more Arsenel goodies sold in India this year than those of Man U or Chelcea…the reason being, they play with heart and play with style. I wish Argentina take this step by step….first the Copa…then get the world recognition on the advocates of this beautiful game which is tactical but beautiful…You will hear the names of Lazy Majician more often for his brilliance than for his media friendliness(or the lack of it)…You will hear more about the big heart of Carlos Tevez than the brutal strength of Didier Drogba….you will hear a more friendly comparisons between c. ronaldo and messi…the list goes on…and I am optimistic…

In the mean time in this golden era, we as fans can influence a lot of minds by showing them how beautiful what we enjoy now…

Posted from India

By Native Son | July 12th, 2007 at 7:13 am

Folks,

This is good stuff. I will have to read it later for I’ve got to go to work.

Enjoy!

Posted from United States

By Rune | July 12th, 2007 at 11:02 am

A great victory!! I am so happy! The first half was awful, but it was better after the break. The genious Messi gave me one of the happiest moments of my life. Thank you, Messi…and Riquelme, Mascherano and Tevez.
Bring on Brazil….I must admit that I am allready VERY nervous before the game on sunday. We have to win, we can’t lose against this mediocre Brazilian team.
See ya.

Posted from Norway

By Mane | July 12th, 2007 at 11:28 am

100% in agreement with the fact that Brazil is not playing the soccer we all expect and know they can play and that -I think- has more to do with the politics of the sport than anything else. Brazil has become a soccer talent exporting machine and that seems to override any other concerns. Brazilian teams profit handsomely from the sale and future transfer of players so the incentive to chase after those Dollars has become the most important goal in Brazil and the national team is nothing more than a showcase of talent for sale. As long as Brazil is not truly humiliated the situation is likely to continue but when something “catastrophic” happens -like let’s say Brazil not qualifying for the world cup- then the opening could present itself for the type of change that would bring Brazil back to the forefront of the most mesmerizing soccer in the world. I think we can agree that considering these players only get together for a few weeks they do manage to pull through so imagine what they could do if they spent more time playing together.

I like the way Argentina plays and they are certainly up there in the second level of the best soccer in the world with the likes of Italy and France but I would not put Argentina as a rival of Brazil in the quality of the players. If we look at the future I would point ot some african countries to produce great soccer as they improve. Peace.

Posted from United States

By Mac | July 12th, 2007 at 1:01 pm

Yo apoyo a todos los equipos latinos, primero dejar eso claro.

Argentina tiene la seleccion mas potente del continente americano hoy dia, un equipo capaz de derrotar cualquier potencia europea! Sin embargo no se debe olvidar que todo equipo tiene sus ciclos y pensando que el Brasil de hoy sera el Brasil de siempre es sintoma de miopia.

Con eso dicho… se me encuentra dificil decidir que equipo apoyar este domingo. Pero si apoyo el equipo que juega el futbol como se debe jugar, bueno.. es obvio con quien yo voy!

Posted from United States

By Alexa | July 12th, 2007 at 4:07 pm

Mac-
lovely post. well said.

By elmeromero | July 13th, 2007 at 1:53 pm

I am a big, big Mexican soccer fan and was extremely excited about the game, both as a rematch of the great world cup match, and as an opportunity for us to prove to the world that we in fact do have a first tier team. While I don’t think the Mexicans played bad, I had to unfortunately come to the realization that Argentina is playing with as much style, strength, speed, technical proficiency, creativity, and heart as any great team I can recall in the past 20 years. This team is the the real thing, and it hurts to say it having just lost to them, but they are changing the way the game is being played. Riquelme is stepping in to fill the void left by Zidane, and all the other great 10’s. All the others are exceptional as well, especially Messi who is a prodigy and Macherano who is a pitbull, but Riquelme might just be remembered as one of the greatest players ever if he can loosen up a bit emotionally and get back to playing in Europe. If I were Calderon I would be focusing all my energy to bring Juan Roman to Madrid and let him take over the the Merengues, it would be a perfect situation for both Real Madrid looking for a spiritual leader and Riquelme that would be given the tools to succeed unlike at Villareal.

Posted from United States

By Mane | July 15th, 2007 at 11:58 pm

Meromero no sea tan maromero…..Riquelme is no Zidane by a loooong shot. Riquelme is good but Zidane was great!!

Posted from United States

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