a very special match in a special World Cup

The ball is already rolling and today the eyes (and expectations) of everyone in the world are on Qatar, a small country in the Middle East that is hosting the Soccer World Cup for the first time.

When I received the invitation from the newspaper El Economista to write an opinion article about the World Cup and, in particular, about the match between Argentina and Mexico, I admit that I was very enthusiastic, but I quickly asked myself if I was in a position to say something new on these topics. Hard. But at least I could try to share my great passion for football and my expectations for this World Cup.

Soccer is without a doubt one of the most popular sports on the planet. Soccer is emotion, soccer is passion, soccer is camaraderie and teamwork, soccer is songs and colors. And all this is enhanced and exacerbated every (now almost) four years when the World Cup arrives. During that month, a beautiful and hectic month, soccer becomes the universal common language around which a gigantic popular, diverse and multicultural party is generated.

The Qatar 2022 Soccer World Cup will be no exception. Quite the contrary, it will surely be a peculiar World Cup as never seen before: due to its condensed structure mainly around a single city, due to the enormous economic and social cost incurred, due to its extreme heat that forced the date to be moved from June-July. to November-December, for being the first after the COVID-19 pandemic, for being the first in an Arab country in the Middle East, and for many other things.

Likewise, this Soccer World Cup finds Argentina playing against countries with which it has diverse but excellent levels of relations, such as Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Poland. In particular, I think the match between Argentina and Mexico is going to be very special. Personally, because he finds me living in Mexico representing my country. And surely it is just as special for the large number of Argentines who have made Mexico their new permanent or temporary home. In strictly sporting matters, I believe that the Mexican National Team has good players, all of them with a lot of experience. I have no doubts that it will be a highly contested game, like all our matches in previous World Cups: it is a game that must be played; it is not won by one team, nor lost by the other; and only thus it is necessary to take it.

A few days ago they asked me what my prognosis for the game was. Like the skilled midfielder I never was, I kicked the ball to the wing and responded by saying what I wanted: Argentina and Mexico to reach the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Argentina suffered a heavy blow in their first match. However, I still believe that the National Team had reached this World Cup having found a team, a balanced team in terms of age, experience and skills. They have players with a good footing, but they are also shown to be a dynamic and intense team. As a simple personal comment, perhaps I would like the figure of a “caudillo” to appear more clearly, of an emotional leader such as Javier Mascherano or Diego Simeone knew how to be. There is a leader and reference, there is no doubt about that.

Lastly, I cannot help but remember that this Soccer World Cup is very special for another particular reason: this is the first World Cup without Diego Maradona. How he misses Diego. But are you sure he won’t be cheering like always?

emexi@mrecic.gov.ar