World Cup: Argentina v USA

It has been pointed out that I haven't written anything in a while and people have asked what happened? Well, the World Cup happened. It's hard work trying to watch 6 hours of futbol every day while still being an attentive father and husband! Especially when you enter a state of chronic depression caused by the disappearance of the US left back in the 4th minute, allowing the Czechs to score the winning goal - but more on that later.

What’s been the most interesting thing about watching the World Cup from Argentina for me has so far been watching the Argentina game. Obviously the buildup here was huge – with the World Cup getting its own section in the daily paper – every day. It’s almost (and I stress almost) impressive to see that there are so many things that one could fill up 16 pages every single day. Of course, some of that is stuff like what the team did at practice yesterday and what Diego Maradona ate for breakfast.

But more to the point, after the Argentina game, everyone here was depressed. They won, 2-1. Maradona talked about the need to look at more players for the national team. The papers were dissecting “what went wrong.” And everyone I talk to said the team played horribly. Funny – the game I watched they played exactly the way they should! Two early goals by their star strikers, so take them off so they can rest for the next game in 5 days (besides, they have a bench that other countries would love to have as a first team), and then play conservatively so as not to allow the other team scoring opportunities. It’s a lot easier to make the other team chase the ball than to run end line to end line for 90 minutes. Sure, after the second goal it may not be as entertaining as the Nike commercials, but they went to Germany to win the World Cup – not run for President….

Meanwhile, back in the US of A, the press talked about how beautifully Argentina played, expending enough energy to win the game, and displaying a glimpse of its ability to dominate without peaking too early. But what do Americans know about futbol? Clearly nothing, or rather three to nothing, as the Czechs would show a couple of days later.

So after Eddie Lewis disappeared upfield, and the Czechs quickly drove the ball into space, lifted a beautiful cross onto the head of their star forward, the Americans tried hard to play their own game, and if you read the American press, you would’ve thought that Bruce Arena had fielded a team of kids selected only for the appeal of their soccer-moms. After going down 2-0, Arena took a gamble, changed the formation, and sacrificed (?) a defender for an attacker in order to win back some goals. Like betting on green in roulette, it seldom works – but when it does!!!!

So instead of a big payoff, Arena went on to describe the game as the worst game by this team ever played. The US press agreed, and lit up Arena, and pretty much every player who put on the blue jerseys that day. The ratings for US players only gave Reyna a passing grade (and he, of course, is the son of Argentines…).

Imagine – if the US press was so critical of their own team, the Argentine press that hates America clearly would highlight the ineptitude of the “soccer” players. Or not.

The Argentine press gave better marks for all but two American players than the Brazilians (who played a horrible game). They were encouraged by Arena’s willingness to take risks and at least try to play an attacking game when the Czechs were so bunkered in. But hey – what do they know? It’s not like they’ve won a couple of world cups or anything. Besides, they don’t even play real football – just that silly game with a round ball – you know, the one that a few people watch. Like those drunk English hooligans.

So rather than mourn the horrible performance, I choose to celebrate the fact that we have finally been elevated to a status where we are more critical than those countries with a rich history and passion for the beautiful game. At least, I do right now – 10 minutes after Argentina won 6-0 over the Serbs and Montenegrans…..

Ask me again on Saturday at 6 after the US-Italy game.