A Test of Faith in Argentina
ROSARIO, Argentina — Diego Maradona reached into his bag of emotional tricks to try to conjure a victory for Argentina against its archrival Brazil, and save his country’s dimming chances of making next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Argentina’s bid to reach the 2010 World Cup has floundered since the national hero Diego Maradona took over as the team’s coach.
Maradona, the Argentine coach, had Saturday’s match moved from the capital, Buenos Aires, to a more intimate stadium here. He took the team to church on Thursday, to pray.
But none of it had the effect he was looking for. Argentina played listlessly, losing by 3-1 to Brazil, which clinched a World Cup spot and left Argentina hanging.
It was Argentina’s first loss to Brazil on Argentine soil in a Cup qualifier, and it left Argentina clinging to the fourth and final automatic qualifying spot in South America with three matches to play.
The unthinkable is starting to dawn on soccer-crazed fans here: that Argentina, despite having a roster with the star Lionel Messi and other marquee players, may fail to qualify for the Cup for the first time since 1970.
That possibility is almost too much to bear for many Argentines. In a country of few living heroes, the 48-year-old Maradona is a flawed character, a recovering substance abuser who struggled with the trappings of stardom. But time and again, Argentines forgave his faults because of his undeniable brilliance on the soccer field, his almost divinelike inspiration at times.
Now his failures as a coach are threatening to sully his legend as perhaps the world’s best-ever player.
“I admired him as a player, he is a god for us,” said a dejected Jorge Rodríguez, 55, as he left Rosario’s stadium. “But Maradona is not a coach; it doesn’t work. He showed that tonight. We have some of the best players in the world, and they showed us nothing. They are lacking order, discipline, everything. They need a coach.”
On Saturday night, Brazil struck early with a scintillating header by Luisão in the 24th minute. After a second goal by Luís Fabiano six minutes later, on a loose ball in front of the Argentine goal, Maradona turned disgustedly from the sideline and retrieved a yellow water bottle. For much of the night, his face was a mask of confusion and distress.
Cries of “Eliminated!” and a series of chants directed at Maradona echoed from the Brazilian cheering section.
In the 65th minute, a long, powerful shot from Jesús Datolo caused the capacity crowd of some 30,000 to erupt. But two minutes later, they were silenced again when Luís Fabiano took advantage of another Argentine defensive breakdown, chipping the ball over Argentina’s charging goalkeeper, Mariano Andujar. The result stood, 3-1 Brazil.
Many Argentines expressed doubts when Julio Grondona, the president of the Argentine Football Association, named Maradona the coach of the national team last November. He had little coaching experience, and some worried that the stress of the job could lead him back to drug and alcohol abuse.
The playmaker Juan Román Riquelme quit the team over remarks he saw as critical of his playing style by Maradona and reporters. In April, Argentina lost to struggling Bolivia, 6-1. Maradona blamed mostly the high altitude of La Paz for the defeat. But a loss at Ecuador cemented fears that Maradona was out of his depth.
Argentina has been in dire straits before and still found a way to qualify for the Cup. In 1985, a goal in the final minutes against Peru tied the score, 2-2, and Argentina narrowly slid through.
It went on to win the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. In that tournament, Maradona shone on the field, scoring one memorable goal against England and another with his hand, which the referee apparently never saw. Afterward, Maradona famously told the news media that he scored the goal in part with his head and in part with “the hand of God.”
In 1993, after Argentina failed to qualify outright, Maradona was called up to help the national team clinch a spot. Argentina had to play two matches against Australia. In the first match in Sydney, Maradona set up the Argentine goal in a 1-1 tie. In Buenos Aires, the Argentines won, 1-0.
“Normally, this part is much worse for the team than the Cup itself,” said Sergio Levinsky, an Argentine who wrote the book “Maradona: Rebel With a Cause.”
Since taking over as the coach, Maradona has focused on changing the climate around the team. He goes to the players’ homes, and he calls them on the phone. In a bid to further inspire the team, he pushed to move the match on Saturday to Rosario, where the fans would be closer to the field and where Messi, who grew up in the city, would be surrounded by friends and family.
“None of what he has done has anything to do with tactics,” Levinsky said.
To try to address Maradona’s lack of experience, Grondona assigned Carlos Bilardo, the coach of the 1986 World Cup-winning team, to serve as an assistant. But Maradona has limited the 70-year-old Bilardo’s input, not allowing him to eat with the players or make personnel decisions, Levinsky said.
Argentina will next face Paraguay, which is tied for second place, on Wednesday in Asunción. Matches with Peru in Argentina and with Uruguay in Montevideo will be Maradona’s last chances to save face — and not be remembered as the coach who failed to reach the Cup for the first time in 40 years.
“Even if we win the Cup, it doesn’t confirm that Maradona is a great coach,” said Omar Bello, the director of an advertising agency in Buenos Aires. “It would just confirm that Maradona is God.”
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Argentina names squad vs. Brazil, Paraguay
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has named his 19 European-based players in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with archrival Brazil and Paraguay in September.
The local-based players will be added to the squad on Aug. 30, it was announced by the Argentine Football Association (AFA).
From the squad the surprise inclusions are that of relative newcomers Jesus Datolo of Napoli and Nicolas Pareja of Espanyol. Maradona also decided to select both Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez, even if they play their club football for Newcastle United.
Once again, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain was overlooked by Maradona. But the French-born youngster has declared that he is still determined to represent Argentina in the future.
Argentina is in need of victories in its next two qualifiers, as the team is currently in fourth place in the 10-team South American group, and could risk World Cup elimination.
Their clash with archrival Brazil is particularly important, not only because of the rivalry between both teams, but because if Brazil wins the game and the results from the other matches favor it as well, it could secure passage to the World Cup on Argentine soil.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Juan Pablo Carrizo (Real Zaragoza), Mariano Andujar (Catania)
Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Jesus Datolo (Napoli)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Lisandro Lopez (Lyon)
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Russia 2-3 Argentina: Aguero & Lopez on target
Inspired substitutions proved the difference as Diego Maradona’s Argentina came from behind to beat Guus Hiddink’s Russia in a friendly in Moscow.
Lisandro Lopez and Jesus Datolo both scored within seconds of coming on to give Argentina a 3-1 lead before Russian substitute Roman Pavluchenko pulled one back for the home side with 10 minutes remaining.
Igor Semshov had earlier given Russia the lead before Sergio Aguero struck a fine equaliser for Argentina on the stroke of half-time.
Hiddink was missing wide men Vladimir Bystrov and Chelsea newcomer Yuri Zhirkov for the match at the Lokomotiv Stadium, while Maradona, in addition to the injured trio of Carlos Tevez, Martin Demichelis and Juan Sebastien Veron, lost Lionel Messi to a pulled muscle on the eve of the game.
In an lively opening both sides created opportunities before Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Semshov put Russia ahead on 17 minutes, firing a shot in from a tight angle which Argentina goalkeeper Mariano Andujar got a weak hand to but could not keep out.
Aguero was looking menacing for the visitors up front, hitting the side-netting on 14 minutes and going close in the 37th minute, having broken clear and turning Sergei Ignashevich only to see his chip shot blocked by the onrushing Igor Akinfeev.
But Argentina’s pressure was rewarded on the stroke of half-time when a Jonas Gutierrez cross from the left was cleared by Ignashevich only as far as Aguero, who struck a sublime finish from 25 yards past a helpless Akinfeev and in off the post.
Maradona, with one eye on the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Paraguay at the beginning of September, rung the changes at half-time, bringing on Lopez for Diego Milito, and the Lyon hitman made an instant impact, picking up a pass from Emiliano Papa and evading some frantic Russian defending before drilling low past Akinfeev.
Datolo struck the third in the 59th minute from the edge of the box having been introduced by Maradona just seconds beforehand.
Russia had a shout for a penalty turned down in the 65th minute when Andriy Arshavin tumbled under a challenge from goalkeeper Andujar, and Aleksandr Anyukov and Alan Dzagoev both dragged shots wide before Pavlyuchenko, a replacement for Aleksandr Kerzhakov, reduced the deficit with a deflected free-kick.
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Legends of Argentina — Domo and Lituche
This is a legend passed down generation to generation to explain the creation of the ancient civilisation of the Mapuche world. In the beginning there was nobody in the world apart from a spirit living alone in the sky, and he as a result decided to create life.
The legend explains that Lituche, man, was created first and this was done by the spirit opening his eyes and from his arms gave birth to him. He named him Lituche meaning ‘first man’ in Mapudungun. Deciding to send him immediately to earth he threw him with some force and he crashed to the ground. His mother on hearing the cries opened a window in the sky to look at him.
Kuyen, the moon, as she is known would at night watch over people while sleeping. Ngnechen, the spirit, also opened a window, Antu, the sun which gives light and heat to all living things, to see what was going on.
Father, why must I be all alone? yelled up Lituche to the sky.
Ngnechen decided that Lituche needed a woman and so from a star he made Domo, woman. Then very gently he let her fall to the ground. Domo started walking and Ngnechen created grass and flowers, making them grow so she would not hurt her feet. Insects, birds and butterflies flew out of her mouth and this is how Domo gave Lituche the sound of nature.
Lituche and Domo knew that together they would fill the emptiness of the earth as they looked at each other that first time. Their children, the Mapuche, grew and multiplied and were taught that the fruits of the Pewen were the best things to eat. From them they made flour and cooked bread.
According to legend also Domo is meant to have cut wool from sheep and spun it, dying it with vegetable roots. Then Domo wove this wool using four poles and wove it into a fabric called witral. As Lituche and Domo built their house the ruka, sky, was filled with new spirits called the Cherrufes who the people feared. They respected nature, even to this day, and look to the sky seeking protection from their creator Ngnechen.
The Mapuche still exist today and still believe this legend as it is part of their culture and explains how the world was created.
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7 steps to Argentina Cultural Immersion
There are many ways to enjoy and immerse yourself in this wonderfully diverse country in South America. There are many ways to enjoy this beautiful country in South America. Argentina is the second largest country in South America and is bordered by Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay and Chile, with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south. There are many places a visitor can explore in this country, immersing themselves in its culture with its pre-Columbian with the caves such as Cueva del Milodon in Patagonia as well as other sites around the country. You can enjoy the adventure of learning about the country and to help with this there are some steps to help in your tour of Argentina.
1. To really immerse yourself in the Argentine culture you need to experience a little of its past. The best way to do this is to visit the historical locations around the country, of which there are many. To begin you should visit Los Quilmes, the most important archaeological site of the pre-Columbian culture in Argentina. This place is a good starting point for your immersion into Argentinean culture.
2. The second way to continue your Argentine cultural immersion is to look for the natural preserves to be found around this country. Argentina has some of the world’s tallest mountains, with expansive deserts and impressive waterfalls. The diversity of the land ranges from the wild, remote areas in southern Patagonia to the bustling metropolis of Buenos Aires in the north, making Argentina rich in regards to ecology. You can appreciate and get to know the environment better, finding out how the people interact with different parts of their environment.
3. To continue your immersion into the culture of Argentina you must remember history and nature are but the start of your tour. Hungry by now the next stop on your agenda is food, look out for some traditional food. The best place to start is with some empanadas, a common dish served at parties. With your food you could try a cup of the traditional tea called mate. An excellent way to start tasting the cuisine in Argentina.
4. If you plan your trip to Argentina it might be an idea to plan it to include one or more of the festivals that occur during the year, such as Fiesta de las Murgas in Buenos Aires which is celebrated every weekend of February. There you can find costumed street band competitions with loud music and dancing. You could visit when the temperatures are milder, in the fall or spring. This country has so much to offer all year round, just plan accordingly and immerse yourself further into their culture.
5. In modern Argentina when the communities gather together as they used to in the past it is now as a mixture of old and new together, and the town squares will be teeming. Buenos Aires is packed with lively cafes and palm-filled plazas, a great place to visit and wander about. Alongside the trendy cosmopolitan set and their cocktails you will see the nostalgic old timers with their radios. You can enjoy the diverse mixture of cultures, the noise and bustle of life, with the old and new. With everything you see and touch, taste or smell, you will find yourself wanting more.
6. The next step in your immersion is to meet people and chat with them about their lives. The markets and plazas are great places to start in your quest to meet new people and asking them what they do. You can meet people in the restaurants and cafes around the towns. Meeting local artisans in their shops or on the streets you can learn about their families roots, learn of their traditions first hand. A good way to relax and unwind as well as mingling in an unstressed atmosphere.
7. A final way to immerse yourself in the culture in a way most tourists never see is to volunteer in one of the programs from around the world involved in rural regeneration such as Responde, and in education such as ORT which serves the Jewish community in Argentina. As a volunteer you would be based in a village to help build it up, to stop its decay. This is a great opportunity for you to experience Argentina in its raw basis.
These steps are all perfect for immersing yourself into the culture of Argentina. You will see the world here through the eyes of those that live there day to day, and no doubt have your eyes opened, learning from what you see. You will get a fantastic opportunity to experience the country from an inside perspective. When visiting plan your itinery and make the most of your time there by following the above guidelines to make your trip unforgettable.
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