DOHA: Maradona and Mexico. Argentina’s pre-match talk with the press resonated with these two words here on Friday. Up until now, the words had sat happily beside each other, becoming a world by itself and getting a life of its own. And importantly, staying that way for 36 years.
On Friday, those words and the idea they carried seemed so different, so far away.
Mexico’86 is the last, distant happy World Cup memory for Argentina, made primarily by Maradona and his largely single-handed genius. It has proved both a boon and a burden since. Almost like being stuck in a moment they cannot get out of, the Argentinan invokes the ebullience and brilliance of that memorable summer, but at every World Cup, Argentinian teams, players, managers and staff have been trying hard to better that, simply by equalling the magic. They continue to fail each time even as the rest of the world has moved on.
As they encounter another similar reality this time, rather early in their World Cup life in Qatar, ironically it is Mexico that stands before this suddenly beleaguered team. The Lionels, Messi and Scaloni, face a strangely unfamiliar reality of defeat – and highly possible ouster from Qatar – as once again they see the rest of the football playing world passing them by.
And all this, happening in the shadow of Diego Maradona’s second death anniversary on Friday.
“Tomorrow, we will try to bring some joy for Maradona, if he’s looking down at us from above,” coach Scaloni, presenting a brave front, said. “It still seems unbelievable that he is no longer here. It's a day for all Argentines, a very sad day for us, but we hope that tomorrow will be a happy day,” he added.
“We will leave everything on the pitch there tomorrow, I can assure you we are ready to break our backs for a win, and move ahead in the competition,” he said, as he faced his first crisis as Argentina coach. Tuesday’s Saudi reverse came after a 36-game unbeaten streak, dating back to 2019. Suffice to say, Scaloni hasn’t encountered losing.
“After a big blow (like that), which was hard to digest, you need to rise up. You have to bounce back. There is no other approach,” he said. “We need to be ready for such a blow. For a long time, I have been saying this, since we have enjoyed the streak, when everything was perfect for us, everything was joy, that we have to prepare for the blow. Luckily it was in the first match, and there is time to recover and improve,” Scaloni said.
“What is non-negotiable is the way we play, that will not change. The whole group met yesterday, and there may be changes in names in the starting list, but no change to strategy or attitude,” he promised.
Argentina have usually been able to overcome Mexico as an opponent at the World Cups – three wins in three meetings. This time, however, a familiar face stands in charge of the Mexicans. Gerardo Martino had coached Argentina previously in 2014 and is well aware of the ways and systems of his former team. “I don't think the result changes their way of playing,” said Martino. At stake for him is also a passage into the next round, even if at the cost of his homeland. The Argentine fans understand this well.
“Argentina is different from other countries, when it comes to football and the support. They buy into the footballing philosophy of our land. We have to prove it to them,” said striker Lautaro Martinez, with a half-smile when asked about the rivalry.
Martinez who was done in by two VAR calls against Saudi Arabia is looking forward to the meeting to bury the memories of Tuesday. In September 2019, he had scored a hat-trick in a 4-0 win.
“We have been working on the details, and also for Maradona. We keep him in mind. He was a very important person in world football, not just for us Argentines,” he said, “We remember him in the best way. Today is a sad day for everyone and hopefully tomorrow we can give happiness.”
