Tag: Football

2010 World Cup Results: Argentina 3-1 Mexico

Argentina-World-Cup-Football-Mexico-Messi

Ah. Yes. This is football. Football, they say, is more than just a game. Put two fiery Latin sides into the equation and you have 90 minutes of talent and controversy, passion and goals.
By half time in Argentina’s Round-of-16 match versus Mexico, Maradona was breaking up an argument (really) as the frustrated Mexicans lost their temper. Why the frustration? Where to start…

June 30th, 2010

South America’s World Cup!

This is South America’s World Cup. Of the eight groups in the World Cup, Uruguay and Argentina have been crowned first stage winners. As it stands Chile, Paraguay and Brazil are at the top of their groups. Of the two central American teams only Honduras will bow out, with Mexico qualifying in second place. By contrast, the European powerhouses: Germany, France, Italy, Portugal and England have all had stuttering starts, surprising the pundits.

June 25th, 2010

Messi and Maradona Lead Argentina to 4-1 Victory Over South Korea in World Cup Football

Argentina Football Messi South Korea World Cup

There’s a distinct danger this post will turn into an ode* to Messi, but oh what a player! We’ve since learned that South Korean, Chu-young, who scored an own goal in the match, has an IQ of 150. But it was the footballing genius of Messi that led Argentina to a convincing 4-1 victory over South Korea. And he didn’t even score a goal. The honours were left to Higuaín, who scored the first hat-trick of the tournament. And in the list of Argentine players, I’d put him behind Di Maria and Tevez, perhaps even Heinze, in the man-of-the-match stakes. It demonstrates the attacking depth of Maradona’s team…

June 18th, 2010

2010 World Cup Results: Argentina 1-0 Nigeria

Argentina Nigeria World Cup 2010 Messi

The Argentines are a gregarious bunch. They sing, they dance, they wave their hands in the air like they just don’t care. In the stands during Argentina’s opening World Cup football game against Nigeria, blue and white dominated. Flags, often painted in support of their home teams (I saw Huracan, Velez Sarsfield, Independiente), were hung from the balconies, while the fans swung their shirts, oblivious to the cooling desert evening. By the dug out, Maradona was almost as entertaining as he once was on the pitch…

June 14th, 2010

The Maradona Show – Argentina World Cup Football Preview

Diego Maradona Argentina Football World Cup 2010

If ever there was the danger of a single man’s overbearing personality dominating a sports team, it is Diego Maradona’s over Argentina’s 2010 World Cup football team. Here is a deeply flawed man, exalted to god-like status in his home country (the Church of Maradona has more than 100,000 members), with the weight of 40 million Argentines on his shoulders. Since becoming coach, Maradona has presided over a lackluster qualifying performance (Argentina lost 6-1 to Bolivia, albeit at 4,000 metres) that saw his team barely scrape into to the World Cup finals, despite having a roster of players that reads like the finest who’s-who of the season…

June 11th, 2010

La Boca vs River Plate – Argentina’s Football Passion

The sky turns white with torn newspaper. The clattering of drums heightens. Machines blast out blue and yellow smoke. “Ole, ole, ole, ole” 40,000 of the world’s nosiest fans scream. They bounce – the shaking stadium is felt more than two miles away. Many have their shirts off in the heat and are swinging them around their heads. The horn section can be heard through the melee. And the fans continue singing: “Soy de Boca/cada dia te quiero mas”, I’m Boca/everyday I love you more. Boca Juniors have just appeared from the tunnel…

February 26th, 2010