If England versus Sweden could just about be called a World Cup match, then this, 24 hours later, was a fixture arranged for the delectation of whatever gods control the destiny of football -- just a group match on paper, and one that ended in a goalless draw, but in fact a miniature festival of all the game's arts, both radiant and, at times, dark. Although, given its context within the tournament, this was never destined to be a match for the history books, it served to demonstrate that football can --and, at this level, should -- be more than a struggle to master the basic rudiments.
This, for heaven's sake, was an evening with three new Maradonas on the pitch at the same time, leaving a fourth on the bench. And that was just from one of the teams. To ask for anything more seemed an impertinence but the edge was taken off an always promising fixture several days earlier when it became apparent that Argentina and Holland would finish first and second in their group and that only the order of precedence remained to be resolved. The chance to play Mexico on Saturday rather than Portugal on Sunday was perhaps not a matter of life or death, and certainly not a factor significant enough to motivate these players to empty their tanks in search of victory.
There was also the matter of Holland's impressive performance, inspired by Arjen Robben, in the victory over Serbia & Montenegro in their opening match, and of Argentina's mesmerising collective brilliance against the same opponents a few days later. It seemed possible that, having announced their presence at the tournament in the most imposing manner, both sides might now want to keep something in reserve for the knockout rounds.
Nevertheless certain fixtures have an inbuilt historical resonance, and Argentina versus Holland is one of them. The second-round match of 1974 (4-0 to Holland), the final of 1978 (3-1 to Argentina) and the quarter-final of 1998 (2-1 to Holland, settled by Dennis Bergkamp's masterpiece) form a compelling series in which the next episode is always eagerly anticipated. If last night's encounter lacked the fullest expression of the dramatic possibilities seen in earlier meetings, it was enough to entertain a stadium evenly divided between the colours of the Oranje and the Albiceleste and rocking to the songs led by a squadron of drummers in River Plate colours.
Curiously enough Holland made almost as much early use of the high diagonal ball from the back, aimed over the head of their opponents' right-back, as England did against Trinidad & Tobago last week. But whereas in England's hands the tactic looked threadbare as soon as it was unveiled, Holland used it to allow Dirk Kuyt, the much admired forward from Feyenoord, to unsettle the right flank of the Argentinian defence.
The resilience of Marco van Basten's new Holland was apparent from the start but it was the technical prowess of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tévez and Juan Román Riquelme that took the eye and, in truth, the heart. After seven minutes Messi picked Rafael van der Vaart's pocket before sliding a wonderfully cunning ball into the area for Esteban Cambiasso, and there were roars from the white and blue end as a move that involved half the Argentinian team ended with a shot from Tévez that curled just past the post.
Riquelme's majesty, Messi's perpetual motion and Tévez's physicality were there for all to admire, with the promise that they will be employed to more devastating effect in the days and weeks to come.
The match would contain no 24-pass moves ending in a perfect finish but there was more than enough to enjoy in Argentina's play and to admire in the strength and diligence of the Dutch, who refused to be rattled by the incessant pressing of the South American forwards and finished strongly. And for those who regretted such a fixture should lack the incentive of sudden death, there were challenges containing a degree of harshness quite sufficient to provide reassurance that old rivalries had not been entirely set aside.
