subject: International Football – Argentina rises from the ashes [print this page] After a deceiving participation in 2010 FIFA World Cup, the Argentineans have delighted their fans with a resounding score of 4 to 1 against the world champions.
They say that bad weather can't last forever, and this phrase has proven its accuracy once again, with the whole world as witness of the 4 to 1 victory of Argentina against Spain. The scenario couldn't have been better: in their country, with their people, in a packed stadium, and the current FIFA world champion as opponent, perfect ingredients for the sun to come out, just like it did. In a country where football is more seen, lived, and feel like a religion - rather than simply entertainment- its population needed a victory to feed their faith, which was downhearted after its disastrous experience in South Africa.
With Diego Maradona no longer in charge, Sergio Batista has taken over at least momentarily and has managed to change the face of the squad in just two games, with some players that where ruled out by Maradona, which is the case of Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti, and Andres D'Alessandro. Former Sub-20 coach, Batista won the gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, and helped him to build a strong friendship with Barcelona's star Lionel Messi, who is the leader of his project. Although he was initially called to replace Maradona temporary - until the decision of who will lead Argentina to the 2014 World Cup is taken in December- the sympathy that the players have shown for him, added to the good results of the team, are good reasons to believe that he is the chosen one.
This friendly match wasn't only the awaking of the national team from a nightmare, but also of Lionel Messi's relation with the crowd. He has always been the target of criticism in the squad, where his performance is constantly compared with his work in Barcelona. Against Spain, Messi finally got that resisted ovation from his fellow countrymen, something that he is pretty used to receive in his club, but had never experienced in his homeland. He not only had scored a goal that made the crowd vibrate, but also showed a wonderful interpretation of his role in the team, reasons that where sufficient to gain the recognition from the stands. No wonder why he feels so happy that "the Argentineans have enjoyed it as well".
"It would have move back a thousand steps if we had lost 4 to 1"
Even though Spain didn't play with the starting line up that conquered the World Cup, and that if was simply a friendly match, still their honor was in game so this victory needs to be taken with the respect that it deserves. That is exactly what Batista advocates, stating that they "would have move back a thousand steps if we had lost 4 to 1". This triumph has also brought the peace and calmness back to the people and players, after all this controversy that led to Maradona's dismissal.
Downplaying the result
Spanish defender Sergio Ramos is downplaying all what has been said and written by the media worldwide about their defeat, as he feels that "we have demonstrated that we can win titles", and didn't seem to care for the critics. Truth is that during the arrival of the World Champions to their country, the serious faces of the players showed that they were very far from not caring for the lost, and also that their pride was hurt.
International Football Argentina rises from the ashes
