Brazil and Argentina will play a key encounter on September 05th, one that could define Brazil’s ticket to South Africa and Maradona`s faith in the argentine bench.
The two South American powerhouses will take their rivalry to Rosario, an industrial city around 150km from the capital Buenos Aires, to play in the Rosario Central venue “Gigante de Arroyito” (literal translation is “Giant from the little river”), a very intimidating stadium for the Brazilians – and one with a history in this confrontation as well.
Back in the 1978 World Cup, which Argentina hosted and eventually won, an almost all South American semifinal took place: Polland, Peru and the two giants played for a place in the final. The game between Brazil and Argentina took place in the mid-June- Argentine’s winter, with a high dose of intensity from the local players, really rough at times, and especially from the fans. One famous tale that is told about on that game is: the Brazilians’ bus was not allowed to enter the stadium, leaving the players across the street from it, so they had to walk some meters surrounded with local passionate fans screaming “nice” things in their ears. Maradona hand-picked this place to face Brazil beacuse he knows the power of 40,000 + Argentinian fans rooting against Brazil.
Fast forwarding 30 years into time, we have two really technical teams that most likely will be playing for the title next year. However, while Dunga maintained a style of game that gave Brazilians hope and a Confederations’ Cup this summer, Maradona looks a bit lost on how to give room to some really skillful players, like Messi and Aguero, and – at the same time – cut the spaces from the opponent. My bet is on a draw. Mainly because the defensive system of the Argentinians is not working well, to a point where even the people there think Brazil’s defense is better. Bear in mind: last time Brazil won in Argentinian soil was in 1995. The last two games there finished with normal wins for the local side.
After some good results, Brazil is leading the way to South Africa with 27 points, they can clinch their place there with a draw in Rosario or a win at their next game with Chile in Salvador. Argentina, on the other hand, is 5 points behind, and with Ecuador and Uruguay in its neck to get to the top four that have guaranteed places, and after Brazil they have to face another tough match in Paraguay. On the first encounter for these World Cup Qualifying Round, they drew without goals in Brazil.
Trash talk, passionate crowds, great players on both sides. That’s pretty much the best anyone can hope for a fine soccer match. Saturday night’s gonna be a special one, certainly to be remembered for years to come. It doesn’t matter if it makes into the world record of all times: Argentina and Brazil have a a rivalry of its own and seeing both countries fighting for. “whatever” is always good. Watch out!
I hope Brazil wins! There is also one other good story about this match in the 1990 Italy world cup (ARG 1 x 0 BRA), that Argentina’s players gave soothing water for Brazilians…. and they assumed they’ve done it years later.
Posted by Rafael | 2 September, 2009, 17:07Yup! This is a good article! I’ll surely be keeping an eye on this match.
Is Argentinian playing style too different from the Brazilian one?
Ivy
Posted by Ivy | 2 September, 2009, 23:54There has been a lot of talk about this venue change – the crowd maybe vociferous but the bottom line is that all the players on show are professionals of the highest standard and as such shouldn’t be unduly affected by it. As with most hostile atmospheres the expectation on the home side could also play into the hands of the visitors.
I recall Brazil’s defence looking very dodgy in Montevideo however they still trounced Uruguay!
http://www.realfootballargentina.blogspot.com/
Posted by Chris | 4 September, 2009, 12:03Sure Chris I agree with you. You wrote properly in your blog, the venue change didn´t mattered. Some brazilian players felt intimidated, Robinho and André Santos never really got to the game, however it all boiled down to the argetinian defence. The Velez double were really inneficient and gave space in the free kicks of the first two goals. The GK however did well when he could, Tevez was another failure yesterday, not creating or finalizing well. And Maradona´s squad needs a forward in the area, like Luis Fabiano stands, so that Aguero, Maxi and Messi can create and open spaces in a fierce defence like the brazilian. To finalize the best on the pitch in my opinion was Kaka, Luis Fabiano is a lucky and skillful scorer but Kaka controlled the match from the middle, with good passes, like the one to the third goal. Now Argentina fin themselves in a mess to get a place in South Africa, against Paraguay in Assuncion this week.
Posted by Fabricio | 6 September, 2009, 21:56Argentina lose for what is only their second ever home defeat in WC qualifying?? Is that right? Do you think Argentina might now struggle to qualify? Surely that is unthinkable!?
Posted by Jodie Gardiner | 7 September, 2009, 10:54Belo artigo, Fabricio. Li o anterior também e gostei bastante, só não havia comentado.
Que bela partida o Brasil fez. De novo! Só tem duas coisas no Dunga que ainda me incomodam… Josué e as más escolhas do último homem pro ataque.
Pra mim é óbvio que o Josué não tem mais qualidade pra jogar na seleção (temos volantes como Hernanes, Cristian e Denílson que são melhores que ele, por exemplo).
E pro ataque, pra mim também parece óbvio, a disputa deveria e polarizar entre Grafite e Kléber, pelo momento excelente que os dois vivem.
Grande abraço, Fabricio.
TRANSLATION!!!
Nice one. I read the previous but never made a comment.
What a big match for Brazil. Again! Only two things in Dungas´management that still bother me… Josué and the choice for the last attacking piece.
For me is obvious that Josué does not hold the quality to play in the National Team anymore (we have others backs like Hernanes, Cristian and Denilson that are better than him, just some examples).
And the forwards for me it should be and option between Grafite and Kleber, mainly because of the good moment they are having right now.
Hugs Fabricio.
Posted by Eduardo Carraro | 7 September, 2009, 19:18Jodie you are correct!! They lost once before, a 5×0 defeat to Colombia in 1993. The Colombians had a great team back than, with Valderrama, Asprilla and Rincon. Argentina will struggle but eventually will qualify, because Uruguay and Equador have a match between them in the next fixture and Venezuela will play Paraguay and Brazil in the last two games, so at least the fifth place is theirs with a win over Peru and a draw in Uruguay at the last game. But they have to surge and change a lot of things to be sucessful in a World Cup.
Posted by Fabricio Presilli | 8 September, 2009, 11:39I heard that the defeat against Colombia (5×0) and this one were ecxactly in the same day…is that right?
Posted by Rafael | 8 September, 2009, 13:52Hi Fabricio – I was very impressed with the disciplined approach of the Brazilian team. Argentina did start the match well and at a high tempo which was to be expected. Kaka recieved a lot of attention but was very restrained under such provocation. Not sure why Maradona has decided to drop Andujar in goal for the Paraguay game either. Higuain needs to be called-up before he chooses France. As has been said many times – the Argentine defence was comical. I believe they will qualify although it could be throught the play-offs.
http://www.realfootballargentina.blogspot.com/
Posted by Chris | 8 September, 2009, 16:08