Argentina looks at Messi for inspiration
Ever since Diego Maradona left the 1994 World Cup with his reputation in tatters for a failed drug test, Argentina has been looking for an able replacement to bring home the cherished World Cup trophy for a third time.
The nation wants a player who can emulate the great Maradona just as he single-handedly won the trophy on 1986 (no pun intended). Although Argentina is known for producing artistic and skillful players, none has thus far been able to live up the high standards of Maradona. In 2002, the young pretenders – of whom there are many – failed miserably when they were knocked out in the first round.
This time around, things may be different. The team is beaming with confidence with so many creative players. There is Juan Roman Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Carlos Tevez, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorin, Javier Saviola and Hernan Crespo. And then there are the players less heard off but excellent nevertheless – players like Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano. And finally, of course there is Lionel Messi.
In the list above, there are at least four or five players who have been touted as the next Maradona. And now the label falls upon the 18-year-old Messi and anyone who had seen him play at Barcelona will agree to that. He is not called the unpredictable genius for nothing.
This boy wonder will be carrying the hopes of his nation and to accentuate that, he will be wearing a pair of specially-made commemorative boots at the World Cup. Stitched into them will be the inscription: The Hand of God Mexico 86.
The dreams of his countrymen will however depend very much on the duration in which Messi gets to play at all for he has not played a full game since tearing a thigh muscle on March 7.
This injury means that he is unlikely to play in Argentina's first game against the Ivory Coast on June 10. He is recovering fast though and he did play 22 minutes of his side's friendly last week against Angola (right).
His coach Jose Pekerman is confident that Messi will be able to show his worth as the tournament gets on.
However in the event Messi fails to shine at the World Cup chances are he might lose the opportunity of replacing Maradona as the nation’s football saviour. Already there is another young gun claiming to be the new Maradona - 17-year-old striker Sergio Aguero who was not picked this time around but in four years time should be ready to carry the nation’s burden.
Ever since Diego Maradona left the 1994 World Cup with his reputation in tatters for a failed drug test, Argentina has been looking for an able replacement to bring home the cherished World Cup trophy for a third time.
The nation wants a player who can emulate the great Maradona just as he single-handedly won the trophy on 1986 (no pun intended). Although Argentina is known for producing artistic and skillful players, none has thus far been able to live up the high standards of Maradona. In 2002, the young pretenders – of whom there are many – failed miserably when they were knocked out in the first round.
This time around, things may be different. The team is beaming with confidence with so many creative players. There is Juan Roman Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Carlos Tevez, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorin, Javier Saviola and Hernan Crespo. And then there are the players less heard off but excellent nevertheless – players like Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano. And finally, of course there is Lionel Messi.In the list above, there are at least four or five players who have been touted as the next Maradona. And now the label falls upon the 18-year-old Messi and anyone who had seen him play at Barcelona will agree to that. He is not called the unpredictable genius for nothing.
This boy wonder will be carrying the hopes of his nation and to accentuate that, he will be wearing a pair of specially-made commemorative boots at the World Cup. Stitched into them will be the inscription: The Hand of God Mexico 86.
The dreams of his countrymen will however depend very much on the duration in which Messi gets to play at all for he has not played a full game since tearing a thigh muscle on March 7.
This injury means that he is unlikely to play in Argentina's first game against the Ivory Coast on June 10. He is recovering fast though and he did play 22 minutes of his side's friendly last week against Angola (right).His coach Jose Pekerman is confident that Messi will be able to show his worth as the tournament gets on.
However in the event Messi fails to shine at the World Cup chances are he might lose the opportunity of replacing Maradona as the nation’s football saviour. Already there is another young gun claiming to be the new Maradona - 17-year-old striker Sergio Aguero who was not picked this time around but in four years time should be ready to carry the nation’s burden.
posted by Kabilan K at
8:22 AM
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