And those people never mention the fact that Brazil finished with 10 men after desperately trying to stop Argentina from scoring another near the end of the game. There were m 5 players in that WC that being sent off while playing againts Argentina, but you'll only hear about Argentina having 2 players being sent off in final in every articles.
Young Diego in his pomp at the old Wembley. Left most who watched that there was no doubt this was the star of the future.
I've watched many extended highlights of 80s Argentina matches, I honestly think they never really looked like world beater. The team during the 90s was better. However during WC 1986 & 1990, when playing the strong sides like Uruguay, England, Belgium, Germany, Italy & Brazil, Diego just had that X-factor to pulled them through.
Diego would have had similar achievement as Messi in NT if he didnt miss out the 1991-1993 tournaments due to addiction. Ruggeri ended up winning more trophies with Argentina.
The biggest sadness is that had Diego not been led astray and been given the proper support and guidance by true friends no hanger ons that he would have been even better than he was. The addictions were detrimental to his performances and conditioning. If he were around now he would have had all that support and people around him and could have easily played till he was forty. Another River product the great Omar Sivori El Cabezon. The prototypical wing forward so supremely balanced and clever with feet and mind. His speed, gambettas, and magical left foot could pull other players into knots and leave them on the ground clutching empty air. Such a shame the dumb AFA banned all the players that went abroad from playing for the seleccion no doubt under direction from the military regime of the time. His sale to Juventus did allow River to complete El Monumental but led to a barren period in titles. Who knows what he could have achieved with the seleccion and the others that were banned. Certainly a very good chance of winning the 58 WC. Argentina bashed everyone at the 1957 Copa South American championship inc. beating Brazil minus Pele 3-0. The sole game lost was against the hosts Peru 2-1 with the title already secured (it being a round robin format). The front line the Angels with Dirty Faces (title of the book by Jonathan Wilson) were deadly and also inc. the tragic Oreste Corbatta with midfield anchored by another River legend Nestor Rossi. He's a legend at Juventus along with John Charles who was such a success at the WC in Sweden and whose last survivor the great Kurt Hamrin a Fiorentina legend passed very recently. Sometimes when I watch Dybala I get flashes of El Cabezon down to the rolled down socks.
I'm not so sure RH. The strongest club sides in Argentina at the time Independiente, River Plate and Argentinos Juniors were very strong within South America and also beat the top European sides like Liverpool. El Bocha Ricardo Bochini couldn't even get a regular spot in the side due to Diego but he was also a master 10. It was a strong all round side with depth at all positions. Very few however played in Europe. How times have changed.
Yea, we obviously had alot of top players not just Diego, but I'm talking strictly of the national team performance. Like the Copa America performance throughout the 80s, I think Argentina could have done much better. Although after reading Diego autobiography, he didnt seems to care much about CA at the time. If you look at Argentina winning percentage under Billardo it was clearly underwhelming.
Maybe you've watched this maybe you haven't but it's always a sublime experience to see Diego in full flow. I had not seen some of this before. Once upon a time there was a programme called Football Italia that covered Serie A live every Sunday here in the UK. One of the main presenters was James Richardson a very erudite chap. Here he is discovering the status Diego has been raised to in Neapolis.
This copa america was amazing. They faced all the hardest teams. Compared to what felt like a walk in the park with the road to the 2016 copa usa final. Just rewatching it again, brings back memories and players I forgot were involved. anulo mufa
Otamendi is one of those players you keep forgetting has been around since the 2010 world cup. https://imgur.com/a/SuHaJEf
No, I think we all remember Ota playing in 2010... with Diego's back 4 of all CBs... How can we ever forget that piece of footballing genius?
Pep saw that piece of genius in 2010 and is now applying that back 4 of all CBs at Man City Diego was ahead of his time.
He brought Veron and Samuel to that WC , yet somehow those two just suffered a phantom injury. Samuel even said its not serious injury and he could possibly play the next game against Greece, but instead he missed the next 3 matches.
Samuel was in top form. 2010 was easily our biggest waste of talent. I think that team could have been our best ever.
Veron was also South American Footballer of the year in 08 and 09. Almost won it again in 2010. The team under Diego was never going to pan out. Even a 23 year old Messi was not going to help. Not to mention that stupid ball was something he could not get a grasp of and it showed. He came close scoring a number of times. Probably should've got the goal v Mexico but Tevez threw a header in the way(Maybe it was going to get cleared, maybe not but I am sure it would've given Messi a boost). The entire hiring Diego was a complete debacle. We lost JRR and for that time, a giant part of the team. No idea how the likes of Bolatti, Garcé, Clemente and Palermo made the team. We had Aimar who played well v Peru, where he set up Fatso for his goal and did not ever see him again. Not to mention, when Inter won the treble that year, and Diego was being interviewed he said "He was not surprised and there is a reason why Milito and and Samuel were called up because they were champions." Comical, where he left Cuchu and Pupi at home and he was talking "Champions." Maybe if we had the right manager and the proper players, who knows. We would've done better. Who knows... Most of the 2010 World Cup was a giant blur. One of the worst World Cups ever, probably behind 02. The final was horrid. I cannot think of a single game that would be considered an all-time classic. Brasil v the Netherlands was okay but rest? God-awful.
Exactly, and speaking of classic games from that WC, I'd say Uruguay vs Germany & Netherlands were both entertaining to say the least. The other good thing is that I was hoping we'd get first timer winner as soon as we're out and it happened. Still much better than seeing Germany let alone Brazil winning that one. Even with that stupid ball, Messi was definetely the unluckiest footballer on the planet throughout that tournament. He came close to score multiple times in first game , his shot hit the post againts Korea only for Pipita to tapped it from 1 yard. The next game it was the same, this time Palermo scored from his rebounded shot , what a joke lol
The 2-0 is recent, but here's a match of from the beginning of Scaloni's tenure. Beautiful result and a lot of familiar players who were just starting this cycle. Crazy how far we came. Also it's nice reminding Mexicans lurking.
Italy faced Argentina at the WC for 5 straight competitions. 1974 to 1990 https://www.thesoccerworldcups.com/head_to_head/italy_vs_argentina.php
El Burrito was magic. He was as skilled as any great 10 of his era, but his inner demons got the best of him. The drinking and the partying took his prime away. Ortega is basically the Argentinean version of Ronaldinho.