SA Blog Number 19: Argentinaīs World Cup Hopes Depend On A Masked Marvel From Englandīs Second Tier
April 14th 2010
Following his Champions League heroics, the level of Leo Messi hyperbole has sent the footballing world into an almost cataclysmic state of frenzy, with thousands of column inches already dedicated to the ´debate´ over whether little Leo is the greatest to ever play the game.
Pele chimed in, surprisingly, telling the Argentine he could keep his Maté-sipping mouth shut until he notched “1000 goals, like I did.” Zico, ‘The White Pele’, meanwhile, was a little more benevolent in his appraisal: “today, he is the only football genius” said the latest inductee to the DWHOF.
Whether he´s the best ever or not -and at 22-years-old, even asking the question seems slightly moronic- he is certainly the best around right now. “Messi,” said Arsene Wenger after his side blown away at Camp Nou, “is the best player in the world – by a distance.”
But, so the argument goes, perhaps not when he pulls on an Argentina shirt; there isn’t quite as much love for the Barcelona man in his homeland. A recent poll in Clarin revealed 60% of Argentina fans would leave Messi out of the side altogether, with many revealing their doubts over whether he would make any impact whatsoever in South Africa.
Playing to his potential, Messi probably is capable of reproducing Maradona´s heroics of 1986 -It’s worth pointing out that Maradona’s World Cup winning a side also struggled to qualify for FIFA´s marquee event, requiring a late equaliser to seal a 2-2 draw with Peru in Buenos Aires in 1985- and leading El Diego´s misfits to World Cup glory in South Africa this summer. But that‘s if he can reach his breathtaking potential.
To say Messi has never performed in Argentina shirt is, at best, grossly ill-informed. An Olympic goal medal in 2008 and 13 goals in 43 caps alongside his fantastic displays in leading Argentina to the FIFA U-20 World Cup tell a different story. Has Messi really underperformed for his country? Or, like every other Argentinian international, has he just struggled in a very poor side over the last 18 months? It´s difficult to select a single player who has consistently performed for La Albiceleste since Maradona succeeded Alfio Basile in 2008.
However, it seems the world remains highly expectant. "The overkill of the marketing industry means that there is more focus than ever before on the top individuals," says BBC´s Tim Vickery. "At a time when the physical and tactical development of the game makes football more collective than ever before." To paraphrase, you´re only as good as those around you. And Messi´s international mates aren´t up to much.
For him to reach the ludicrous heights his Barcelona performances have set, Messi is going to need a little help from his friends. In Catalonia he can rely on the best eleven in modern football to provide him with the space and opportunities required to work his magic. Argentina do have one player of undoubted class ahead of him in Gonzalo Higuain, but those immediately around Leo will be nowhere near the level of his Barca contemporaries; Javier Mascherano is a rigid holding midfielder who offers little on the ball and while Juan Veron has probably been the best player in South America over the last two years, he is already 35-years-old. With Diego opting for four central defenders at the back and the dynamic Angel di Maria a world away from Messi, hugging the left touchline, Leo looks set to spend most of this summer hopelessly looking around for a somebody to help him out.
"Leo is playing kick-about with Jesus," said Maradona last week, who will now be hoping that Messi’s lord and saviour will arise in the form of a tireless winger currently plying his trade in the English Championship. Newcastle United’s Jonas Gutierrez looks set to be the most important player in an Argentina shirt this Summer, with Los Albicelestes World Cup hopes hanging on his ability to imitate Barcelona’s Dani Alves.
Messi’s finest performances throughout his short career thus far have come playing in front of the rip-roaring Brazilian full-back, whose overlapping runs not only offer Messi a colleague to exchange intricate passes with, but create space inside the right-hand flank for Messi to exploit. With Velez youngster Nicolas Otamendi -a tough tackling no nonsense central defender- all but guaranteed to slot into Maradona’s ultra-flat back four at right-back, Gutierrez, occupying the right side of the midfield, has inadvertently been lumbered with the task of bringing the best out of the very best there is.
Old Spiderman should be feeling the pressure of an expectant nation; though, thankfully, for his own piece of mind, he probably hasn’t worked that out yet. With the world’s gaze entirely focused on the 22-year-old, 5ft 7” magician from Rosario this June, the responsibility to bring the best out of Messi lies solely on those around him. Messi doesn’t seem to feel pressure. Throughout the early stages of his career it had been said that he would turn up for Barcelona matches not even knowing who they were playing, and he’s also been known to doze off during team meetings.
So Messi will be relaxed come June - and so he should be. His talent and ability to perform at the very highest level is undeniable. “To play that well in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, as if it were a local kickaround,” says Juan Veron, “is the most amazing thing.” And for this Argentina side to even compete this summer, Messi will have to be at his very best. But for Messi to be at his very best, he will need a little help from a Geordie Peter Parker.
Rupert Fryer, SouthAmericanFootball.co.uk
Elsewhere in South America
River Plate Sack Coach Leonardo Astrada
Roberto Pompei Appointed As New Coach Of Boca Juniors
Sebastian Mendez Succeeds Diego Simeone At San Lorenzo
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Bradley Hall
:::2010-05-06 14:01:14
He may have be from the second tier, but he has put in some top performances! he will run all day and run all night, will fall down a 1000 times as well but...good luck to him!
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