I must admit I am a big fan of Argentina. I always play with them (or Spain) in any video game since the days of Pro Evo 4 and Juan Pablo Aimar and Sabe Veron. They were far and away the best side at the last world cup and played a brand of football that has very rarely been seen on the international stage. That Cambiasso goal against Serbia-Montenegro is the best goal to be ever scored at the World Cup (I know that’s a bold claim; think back to Owen, Bergkamp, Matthaus, there have been a lot of stunning goals).
It is ironic then that the one man who can probably justifiably claim the best goal in World Cups is at the centre of attention again. And Esteban Cambiasso himself is one of the two players who should feel victims of nothing short of madness.
I never rated Cambiasso highly, from his time at Real Madrid. He was another Makelele; he sat in front of the back four and cleaned up. Didn’t really tackle or pass with any aplomb. But over the years Cambiasso has developed into a dynamic yet defensively solid midfielder. What makes the decision to omit from the Argentinian World Cup squad all the more surprising is that he has been in top form over the last half of the season. He acquitted himself wonderfully at the Nou Camp, where him and Lucio defended against Messi almost without breaking sweat. I understand Javier Mascherano will always be the first name on Diego Maradona’s team sheet along with Messi, but Cambiasso would merit a start in most international sides. His continued absence from the national side is baffling.
It’s a case of déjà vu for Cambiasso’s Inter team-mate Zanetti who has also been given the axe, after Jose Pekerman’s controversial decision to leave him out of the 2006 World Cup in place of Lionel Scaloni. For a second time he must be left wondering what he is supposed to do to get a ride on the plane to a World Cup. He was captain for a while before Maradona took over, and the steadiness of his performances for Inter merit some comparisons with the great Maldini. He was nominated to the FIFA team of the year last year, and has again been crucial to Inter’s success this season. He is still ridiculously fit for his age, and is a confident and assured defender. Besides, he knows what it takes to play and succeed at the top level. The World Cup heartbreak is even more surprising in his case, since unlike Cambiasso he has been a regular under Maradona despite the change of captaincy.
Which compels me to occur the blashpemy: should Diego Maradona really be in charge of his country’s legitimate World Cup hopes?
The man is more than a legend, he is a god. Quite literally in fact; I remember watching this documentary on a religion that some have started in Argentina where Christmas is Diego’s birthday and such. And when there was talk about him getting the national job, no one dared utter a word against it. I almost felt like the entire country was waiting for him to overcome his illness problems, because there could be no one more perfect than him for this job.
Not quite. Coaching requires such a different set of skills than playing, and the old cliche tells us few great students are great teachers. As an international coach you need to be able to motivate, but more than that you need to find a balance and a cohesion between your players each of whom plies his trade with different teams in different countries.
I’m finding it hard to find the merits of appointing him in the first place, especially with his previous coaching experience (or rather lack thereof). He is a genius, and the federation must have imagined that genius spilling over to his players. But even the unclassified respect – one of his biggest assets from the job perspective – comes at the price of a huge ego. An ego that has essentially deprived the country of watching Juan Roman Riquelme. Sure Riquelme had his own issues, with his mother and the national side. But I think now it’s just a case of there being room only for one giant ego in the locker room.
Argentina barely made it through qualification, which is surprising given their attacking options (Messi, Tevez, Aguero, Milito etc, Messi for crying out loud!!!). But I watched Riquelme orchestrate his team’s attack in the last World Cup with considerable aplomb and panache (a little annoyed I must admit, because he was keeping out my favourite Aimar). But there was no doubt that he was the heartbeat of everything attacking, and it was no surprise to see the style that Argentina played with. He must be sorely missed right now, by no one more than Lionel Messi.
After football commentators and pundits struggle to find more superlatives for Messi, they are quick in acknowledging how much his success is down to the passing ability of the whole team, but Xavi and Iniesta in particular. It would have been ideal for Argentina to have Riquelme be the playmaker, and for Messi to get on the end of his vision. Maradona would do well to give him a phone call.
Indeed, there is another conspiracy theory floating in Argentina. There were times when things looked dire as far as qualification was concerned, and nobody dared say it, but the option to sack Maradona must have been considered. The feeling now is that the federation is letting him do what he wants and is hoping for an ignominious World Cup performance, so that they can sack a really disgraced Maradona and not have to deal with him again.
From a general, non-Argentian perspective, the whole situation with Zanetti and Cambiasso is just a pity. You want to see the best players light up the biggest stage of them all, and this is unfortunate for everyone watching also.
Zanetti and Cambiasso may well be picking the Champions League trophy up on Saturday. It’s astounding that it will be their last game of the season.
Stoppage Time 