Lionel Messi inspires nation to march as Argentine hordes join pilgrimage to watch 2014 World Cup final quest
- Argentina fans have been arriving in Rio by plane, camper van and car
- Lionel Messi is carrying a nation at World Cup as Diego Maradona once did
- It has been a mixed World Cup so far for the world’s greatest player
From right down south in Tierra del Fuego, from the capital Buenos Aires
and from Lionel Messi’s home town in Rosario, they are arriving in Rio de
Janeiro in camper vans, minibuses and beaten-up old cars.
They are
even opening up Sambodromo, where the Carnival normally takes place, to
accommodate them all as they stream into the city.
They are an invading army of Argentine hopefuls, brought here by a desire to be present at an historic coronation. Flights are full so the only way to be part of the show is to settle down for the long drive — two days from Buenos Aires — up through the country and into Brazil.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Lionel Messi showing off his skills during training
Influential: Lionel Messi is carrying a nation at World Cup as Diego Maradona once did
And almost to a man, woman and child, their Argentina shirts bear the names of two men, representing the past and the present: Diego Maradona and Messi.
Messi is carrying a nation here in Rio de Janeiro as Maradona once did. As Jorge Valdano, the 1986 World Cup winner, wrote: ‘As in politics, in Argentina we are always looking for one man to save us. If Argentina win, the people will crown him with laurels; if not they will give him a crown of thorns.’
And it has been a mixed World Cup so far for the world’s greatest player. Messi carried the team through the group; he provided the crucial assist against Switzerland in the last 16; he was by far the most influential player against Belgium in the quarter-finals; by the semi-final, though, he looked fatigued, jaded and unable to offer much energy to the team.
Focused: Messi, left, heads the ball during a training session in Vespesiano, near Belo Horizonte
‘My only fear is that the kid is tired, but in the final game you cannot be tired,’ said Maradona of his heir. ‘He’ll understand that.
Even if he doesn’t score, he will be the best in the world, just the
same.’
Messi has had a season disrupted by a hamstring injury at
Barcelona. He does not look to have the energy levels he displayed a few
years ago when Pep Guardiola convinced him to contribute to Barcelona’s
pressing game. Here he has been a different player, performing deeper,
rather than as the farthest forward striker, and has influenced
midfield.
The semi-final against Holland was played in trying circumstances for the Argentina team. They had woken up on the morning of the game to tragic news that Argentine journalist Jorge Lopez had died in a car crash in Sao Paulo the night before. Lopez knew many of the squad and even shared a flat briefly with Messi in Barcelona when the player was still a teenage hopeful.
Sealed with a kiss: An Argentina fan with a replica of the World Cup on Copacabana beach in Rio
For Valdano, though, too
much rests on one man. ‘How can we build a competitive team? How can we
fulfil expectations? How can we make up for the lack of intensity, the
lack of goals? Until now, the answer to all these questions has been in
one man: Messi,’ wrote Valdano after the group stages. ‘But the name
that captivates Argentinians and dazzles the world, frustrates the
manager, who is trying to ensure that the team is more solid behind Leo,
to create more options and mobility up front.
‘If the manager can get a collective unit playing well, then he can have confidence in the team rather than continually hoping for the inspiration from the No10.’
Up for it: Argentina fans park in a camp after arriving in Rio for the World Cup final
That
manager, Alex Sabella, has stiffened up his team by bringing in Lucas
Biglia alongside Javier Mascherano, which has brought greater defensive
balance to the line-up. Ezequiel Garay has been a sturdy presence at the
back and Martin Demichelis, alongside him, a surprisingly calming
presence.
But it is still Messi who elevates this Argentina team from
being merely a good one to potential World Cup winners, especially in
the likely absence of Angel Di Maria and the limited fitness of Sergio
Aguero.
‘He represents 80 per cent of our creative capacity,’ said Cesar Menotti, the 1978 World Cup-winning coach. ‘He can solve the match in just one second. Even though the Germans can create more space, Argentina enjoys the luxury of having Messi, which the Germans lack.’
backing: Argentine fans with a flag of Diego Maradona on Copacabana Beach
That said, Menotti has also compared Germany with the Brazilian side of 1970, indicating the size of the task Argentina face.
‘Even
after a bad season with Barcelona, Leo turned out to be the man at the
World Cup,’ said Mario Kempes, Menotti’s principal striker in that 1978
World Cup win. ‘He won’t be able to do it alone, but I’m sure he will
show his best form in the final game. He is wonderful.’
While Gary
Lineker doubts that Messi is at his physical peak here, he concedes that
even if not at 100 per cent he could still intimidate Germany. England
felt similarly cowed facing Maradona in their World Cup quarter-final in
1986, according to Lineker.
‘Subconsciously, you know what you’re up
against: a phenomenal talent,’ said Lineker. ‘There was a feeling if he
(Maradona) had a bad day then you’ve got half a chance. I’m sure it
would be the same now if you played against Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.
They score a goal a game.
‘The Germans will know that and I’m sure they’ll make plans for that, but it’s hard to change your entire system for someone. But when I look at him at the moment, I think he’s quite easy to mark.’
Rivals: Argentina and Brazil fans (below) trade chants on Copacabana Beach on Saturday
Maybe Messi has done enough simply be getting to the
final to satisfy the honour of Argentinians. It is noticeable that the
Germans, losing finalists in 2002 and semi-finalists in 2006 and 2010,
have greeted every victory here with an understated sense of
satisfaction.
For this generation of German players, only victory
today will mark a job well done. They will not accept another glorious
failure.
‘Normally after a 7-1 victory you would be really happy,’
said Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker following the semi-final against Brazil.
‘But we were all subdued. Only the final matters to us now and that
comes down to winning or losing.’
By contrast, Argentina were euphoric even to win their quarter-final, ending what they regarded as a 24-year curse of not making the last four. Clearly their semi-final was a degree more tense than Germany’s, but it has unleashed a cascade of euphoria in Argentina, prompting the march on Rio.
Colourful: Argentina fans gather on Copacabana Beach on Saturday ahead of the World Cup final
Mascherano spoke of his soul soaring upon reaching the final. Gonzalo Higuain was similarly emotive.
‘We
are just one little step from writing eternal history for our
football,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to explain and this is a unique moment.’
Perhaps
it is simply the difference in how Germanic and Latin cultures express
themselves, but the Argentines have been noticeably more effusive. But
now that the massed ranks are here, there is only one result imaginable.
And that means one man will shoulder the responsibility. Even Valdano,
who preaches the virtues of the team above the individual, might concede
that.
Prior to the World Cup he was asked who was the best player in the world and, of course, selected Messi. And who’s the second best, he was asked? ‘Messi injured,’ he replied.
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It is being reported elsewhere that John Terry passed through Rio de Janeiro airport this afternoon wearing dark glasses and a German team shirt over an Argentinian team shirt
hopefully we will all see a Messi moment even though i know Germans can break hearts especially this time lol
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angie28, Norwich, United Kingdom, 14 minutes ago
The One Trick Pony...Argentina have one man ' Messi' against a team of muti talented players...Congratulations to Germany before a ball has even been kicked.