Talk before the Copa Libertadores final was of putting on a new face to the world but River Plate fans’ attack on Boca Juniors changed all thatAt around 6pm on Sunday evening, an hour after the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final had been due to kick off, four hours after the game had, yet again, been postponed, a group of River Plate fans on the Subte [Buenos Aires’ underground trains] started up a slow, melancholic song, talking of attacks and pepper spray. Already the events of Saturday, what the Conmebol president, Alejandro Domínguez, described as “a disgrace”, have passed into legend: the game that wasn’t and, depending on the outcome of a meeting in Asunción, Paraguay on Tuesday,...
After his side crashed out of the World Cup, Lionel Messi will have been left wondering whether he should have returned to lead Argentina’s bereft finals showing in RussiaAs Argentina’s defenders punted the ball from net to centre circle for the third time, Lionel Messi gazed down with hands on hips and you wondered who he would be more tempted to curse.Would a stray dark thought double down on the figure of Franco Armani, who had just let Kylian Mbappé’s shot through his legs to undo the work – and it had not all been good – that Argentina had put in so far? Perhaps a special place in hell would be reserved for Jorge Sampaoli for giving him such...
Having ridden out a storm, Argentina may yet go far in this tournament whereas Germany paid the price for not being united or mentally equipped to deal with setbacksIn life it can be known as the moment of truth but in football it is the moment of adversity. It is the moment when as a team you find yourselves trying to cope with pressure, bad performances and even off-field problems which have combined to jeopardise your continued participation in the world’s greatest football tournament. You know that how you react will define your opportunity to lift the World Cup and become part of history.This week Germany and Argentina stared into the abyss of impending failure when adversity struck both sides...
Lionel Messi scored a wonderful goal against Nigeria but Argentina are really struggling at this World Cup – and their style of play may suit France in the last 16A lot of the talk at this World Cup has been about big teams underperforming and, believe me, I know all about that. In 2002 we went into the first World Cup in Asia as reigning champions and we had also added the European crown in 2000, playing better football and with more confidence in our ability. France turned up in South Korea with Thierry Henry, David Trezeguet and Djibril Cissé – the top scorers in England, Italy and France if my memory serves me well. We were the overwhelming favourites...
Argentina’s first opponents are following in the tradition of Uruguay by achieving big results from such a small base and it may require Leo Messi’s genius to crack their rock-like resolveHow many inhabitants does a country need before we have a right to demand a footballing style? I have been thinking that as Argentina prepare for their opening game, just as I wonder that every time I think of Uruguay, who have been determined to win since the beginning of time without getting into debates about the way they do it. Related: Uruguay’s Diego Godín: ‘They kicked Luis Suárez out like a dog. It was unjust, disproportionate’ Related: Iceland’s Heimir Hallgrímsson: I have one of the best jobs in the...