Lionel Messi misses a penalty, but that makes no difference as Argentina enter last 16 in FIFA World Cup
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Lionel Messi
The Argentine football fans are an intense, passionate lot. At Stadium 974 on Wednesday night, it was a sea of white and blue in the stands as the Latin American team whipped Poland 2-0 in a crucial match of the FIFA World Cup. Pre-match hype had been built to a crescendo. At a venue in the oil-rich deserts where sand and storm have been kept away and modern stadia showcase architectural marvels, Lionel Messi did fail. Yes, he missed a penalty, early. What mattered to the fans, screaming, cheering, and egging on the No.10 superstar and the team was that Argentina made it to the Round of 16.
Pray, for a side that has been praised sky-high as possible winners of this World Cup, the beginning against Saudi Arabia was shocking. It boiled down to the last league game, something which could well have been avoided. Pundits and football writers may think Argentina are rusty and rickety, but one man the fans romance with — Messi — continues to hold them in thrall. So what if Messi failed to score a goal? Argentina found two new stars in Alexis Allister and Julian Alvarez, the right guys to get them three crucial points. Up, next, for the Latin American side is Australia, a side that wants to be known as the underdogs as it takes off the pressure.
The football world is divided, for a long time. The GOAT (Greatest of All Time) debate has reached monstrous proportions. Yet, despite billions rooting for CRZ (Cristiano Ronaldo), another few billion are there to cheer for Messi. The man with the No.10 jersey, his right arm all adorned in the tattoo, is the talisman for Argentina. For a country that treats football like life and death, Messi is their God. He is worshipped and is expected to answer their prayers this time, in the form of the World Cup trophy this time.
We have heard of Argentines being crazy about football. It is a bit like the Indian cricket fans who love their idols. No matter what, even though fans know that the Indian team is not in peak form, they will continue to cheer the side. Argentina faces the same situation. Just imagine, we are talking about the Indian team not having won an ICC title since 2011.
Fans believe Lionel Messi and Argentina are destined to lift the World Cup in Qatar
For Argentina, the agony is more acute. They last won the FIFA World Cup in 1986, which seems like eons. Add to it the fact, they bombed thrice in the finals in 1930, 1990, and 2014, and Argentina is convinced this is going to be their year. Faith or blind faith? Form or fluency? Fever or fervor? Well, it s a combo of all factors that the Argentine fans, sporting the white and blue jerseys occupy the stands in Qatar stadia with pride and no prejudice. “For us, it was life or death every game,” says Gabriel Calderon, a star of the Argentina team in the eighties. He has seen the craving.
To be sure, the emotions are raw. If you look at the back of the jerseys the fans wear, the No.10 number figures almost on the back of every second person. Is it a lucky number or is it a reflection of a man they love, even if he misses a penalty? This is what makes Messi so unique, that even if he looks laden-footed, a bit edgy, and not ready to tiptoe into the rival area, he still has that aura. The love affair between Messi and all his fans is evergreen and everlasting.
There is no logic, nor is there any reasoning. Argentina fans believe in numbers, and they talk of ‘la milesmia.’ the thousandth. If Argentina reaches the final, it will be Messi’s 1000th game. He has already played 22 games at the World Cup, a record of sorts for Argentina. But the interesting stat is about Messi playing his 1000th match if the white and blue men make it to the final. Then, it’s certain, Argentina will win the Cup! Sounds weird? Well, that’s the problem when you start looking at logic in everything in football. Till now, we have seen so many crazy things happening in the World Cup. The big fight rages, CRS7 versus 10, Ronaldo versus Messi. And there is Brazil as well in the mix.
How Argentina tackles Australia on Saturday will be very interesting. For the men from Down Under to have progressed till here is creditable. They will be going in against the famous side from an altogether different part of the world as minnows. Right now, it’s euphoria for Argentina football fans or delirium. Try telling them Messi did not score in Qatar against Poland, you may end up getting a free-kick in the wrong place! That’s the romantic relationship between a magician and a fan. If you have not seen it now on TV, then you are obscured.
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S Kannan
(382 Articles Published)