Argentina depends on its great walker

The games follow one another and each team that advances does so like a fakir on the nails.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
04 December 2022 Sunday 03:36
17 Reads
Argentina depends on its great walker

The games follow one another and each team that advances does so like a fakir on the nails. The favorites do not find rivals that submit to the predictions. Neither team won three games in the first phase, which left Germany, Belgium and Uruguay, three teams that are someone in world football, by the wayside. Is soccer even? In a way, yes. Globalization, which extends its networks all over the planet, plays more than ever in this World Cup. For these reasons – economic in this case – it is held in a country the size of Murcia, and for the same reason, in this case strictly football, it is increasingly difficult to find a leg in the World Cup. Argentina witnessed it yesterday in the hot flash they suffered against Australia.

Emiliano Martínez, a goalkeeper who tiptoed through the Spanish League and is now highly valued at Aston Villa, prevented the Argentine collapse on the last play of the game. During 80 minutes, only three remarkable things happened: Messi's electric shot in the first goal, the Australian goalkeeper's mistake in the second Argentinian goal and Enzo Fernández's reckless deflection that meant the 2-1. The insipid performance of Argentina and the serious deficits of Australia prevailed, a vigorous team, disciplined in the defensive chapter and orphan of skills. It does not lack merit. A country passionate about sports, Australia is a rare case: there football does not move socially, it is not a religion.

Australians play football with the same competitive spirit as in the rest of their favorite sports –rugby, cricket, swimming…–, but without the same mastery. It is his indeclinable vigor that characterizes his selection. His football is rigid, shocking and quite simple. It was difficult for her to reach the World Cup and she was destined to leave it very soon. It hasn't been like that. He entered the round of 16 without noise and is leaving on the brink of glory.

Gareng Kuol, an 18-year-old boy, the son of Sudanese refugees, had the opportunity that froze the hearts of Argentines. They say that he has things to figure out and that several English teams are chasing him. We'll see, although he pointed out ways in the control that preceded his very fast shot at the last moment of the game. Emiliano Martínez avoided the goal for two reasons: he perfectly read Kuol's play, took his position two steps forward and placed his cumbersome chassis in front of the young Australian. He parried the shot, and the Argentines breathed with immense relief. They were one step away from implosion.

Messi articulated the game in his own way. He scored a great goal and played another match. Messi walks until he detects the moment to be Messi. It happens less and less, but its occurrences are differential. The Argentine team, which works desperately so that its leader wears out as little as possible, has a collection of good, but not extraordinary players. They depend on Messi as much or more than in previous editions of the team, but there is not a complaint, a reproach, a regret. They feel that Messi brings them closer to his goal in the World Cup.

An inane game presided over the first half, solved by the goal of the Argentine star. He plugged in for a moment and dialed. He then returned to his walking condition, while scanning his game course. Now that big data records everything that can be recorded from the matches, we know that Messi is the player who spends the most time walking in the World Cup. Against Mexico, for example, he covered 4,625 meters in pace, 100 meters more than Salisu, the Ghana center-back.

It is clear that Messi takes advantage of his walks. Without his benefits, it is very difficult to think of a truly competent Argentina. Scaloni knows it and so do the players, but it is a double-edged truth. Messi saves the team and conditions it to the last consequences.