Argentina went into their first World Cup game against Iceland rather like they invaded the Falklands, thinking it would be a walk-over. Instead they walked away with their tail between their legs, just scraping a 1-1 draw with tournament rank outsiders Iceland.
Whatever the Icelanders were they were certainly not minnows. “They are Vikings”, an Argentine friend commented as we watched the game along with several of his compatriots, long-time residents of Catalonia, part of a not insignificant community along the coastal belt just south of Barcelona, which includes Leo Messi.
Certainly whatever they might have lacked in skill, the Icelanders made up in height, physical strength, and sheer motivation, more than enough to frustrate an Argentine team that seemed to lack form or method, however much their coach screamed at them.
The biggest disappointment, because the expectation was so high, was Messi himself, let down by his team mates as much as being at fault himself. For much of the match he seemed to be walking as he does at Barcelona, waiting for the pass to activate his genius with, only with the difference that with Argentina he was rarely found, and when he did have the ball at his feet, he either lost it or fired blanks.
Messi certainly looked fitter and healthier than Diego Maradona whose bloated face and puffed eyes briefly made its appearance on our TV screens looking less than happy as ‘live’ Word Cup observer and pundit, however much he might have celebrated Putin on his arrival in Russia.
No matter, on today’s performance Messi would have done little to convert those fellow countrymen who still believe he has yet to prove that he is better than Diego, and in a World Cup.
As for his enduring rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Argentine’s one failed penalty and an off-target strike at goal was a very underwhelming response to the Madeiran’s hat trick against Spain yesterday, against the real quality opposition that is Spain.
Poor Messi. How he must already miss his Barca mates in this tournament , while Cristiano yesterday was the Portuguese team which played for him and he for them
