Argentina should qualify, but expect little more with Maradona at the helm

We all wondered how it could possibly work? Maradona being appointed Argentina coach in a World Cup campaign, it’s like Capello’s job being given to Gazza. Let’s not beat about the bush, Maradona is mental. Whether he’s shooting at journalists or shooting up at the 94 World Cup, having his stomach stapled or belly flopping into the Buenos Aires night, nothing he does is predictable. Nor does it appear thought through, and this is evident in his coaching style. Argentina is falling out of love with its greatest sportsman.

Forbidden the chance to watch England in the Ukraine due to a preposterous decision to promote inferior technology to the nation, The Worm treated himself to Argentina-Peru on Saturday night, and is very glad he did. This was surely the game of the weekend, for standing, drama and chaos if not for quality. If there had been a football match in the Old Testament, this would have been the game. It had much gnashing of teeth, redemption, and a rainstorm of biblical proportions.

The first half had Argentina dominating entirely against South America’s worst side, but the goals wouldn’t come. Half time was goalless, but with a sense of inevitability about it. 2-0, Trevor Francis confidently predicted from the studio. But Ossie Ardiles was not so sure, he had more at stake, and his knees had gone a-trembly once again. Maradona, he said, has a tendency to make decisions out of panic and so he did, giving Martin Palermo his first cap in a decade in a half time switch for midfielder Enzo Perez. Gonzalo Higuain scored early after the restart but Argentina were no longer able to hold possession in the way they did in the first half and Peru (who had not earned a point on their previous 8 away fixtures in qualifying) began to dominate as the home nerves grew. And suddenly it was raining, prophetically. Argentina’s tentative grip on qualification was being played out through a camera so sodden that you could be forgiven for thinking you had developed cataracts over the duration of the second half.

As the clock turned to 90, Peru scored. 1-1. Rengifo unmarked inside the six yard box to head home. A terribly disorganised goal which would have left them level on points with Ecuador for the final play off place with a win in Uruguay becoming essential. Speaking for a nervous nation, Ardiles had called it and the Greatest Player in History was an umbrella away from a mean Steve McLaren impression.

Within two minutes, Palermo himself had prodded an ugly and unconvincing winner to keep qualification in their own hands, but the drama in these minutes is perfect sport. And there was still time for Peru to hit the bar direct from kick off. This magnificent link gives you a sense of the weather, the desperation, and Maradona’s ludicrous, lonely response to his temporary redemption.

And so to tonight, a school night, but how can I resist? Uruguay v Argentina. The winner joins Brazil, Paraguay and Chile in SA, a draw and Argentina go through. Defeat, and if Ecuador win in Chile, they will finish sixth, qualifying's first loser. Form has Uruguay starting as favourites, but history suggests otherwise. Anyhow, Argentina always qualify, even if it’s through the play offs. Surely they would have enough to beat Honduras over two legs. But I wouldn’t tip them for much more, not unless there is a change in management. And who, other than the police, can stand up to Diego Maradona in Argentina?

Comments

[worldinmotion]

Talking of apocalyptic weather in a World Cup qualifier, massive credit to Slovakia for getting a result out of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVG3TdC3S7E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBrC2OGaC3c
If you look closely there’s a wonderful moment when a shot shakes the snow off the crossbar...

[The Worm]

They were a bit better last night, but still Argentina fail to entirely convince. Uruguay could have scored twice in the first ten minutes as they tried to capitalise on the visitors low morale and nerves, and in the early stages we saw the tough tackling that one would expect from the Battle of the River Plate. But by the half hour mark the game had settled down and the two most influential players were Veron of Argentina and Uruguay's Diego Perez, both imposing, calming, controlling defensive midfielders.

This pattern continued after the break with another familiar face, Forlan, trying to break the deadlock with a handful of scattered long range efforts. But in truth the game was drifting away well before Bolatti slotted home a late Argentina winner from a free kick after Caceres had been foolishly sent off for a second booking.

Uruguay will qualify. They are a solid and well organised team who caused Argentina a lot of trouble in the early stages when they were at high tempo; they will surely have too much firepower for Costa Rica. And it's not a proper World Cup without Uruguay to spoil a group and up the number of bookings.

My doubts about Argentina persist. In these last two games Messi has been virtually non-existant, strange given that Maradona's tactics seem to be based on the ethos "give it to our best player". If it worked in '86... More impressive was Angel Di Maria, a quick, skillful and dynamic left winger currently playing for Benfica. With the familiar stars in the Argentina side, he may be slipping under the radar.

A final point, and a real bugbear of mine as I travel England to visit soulless new stadia. Since the bland redevelopments around Europe, South America must surely have the best football grounds in the world. Check out the glorious Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8PPPscKb0c4/ShNpY1y1LTI/AAAAAAAAAFI/HnaRWj2geIo/S760/ESTADIO+CENTENARIO+MEJOR.jpg

http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/architecture/stadium_design/montevideo_centenario.shtml