“And you see it, and you see it, the one who doesn’t jump is an Englishman.” Of all the anthems of the Argentine fans, that was the real hit at Arrowhead, the stadium of the Kansas City Chiefs, before, during, and at the end of the quarterfinal match against Switzerland. It was no less.
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The day Antonio Ubaldo Rattin died ended up confirming the most morbid match of the World Cup for the semifinals, full of unfinished business and historic revenge. The Boca Juniors midfielder was sent off in the 1966 England World Cup against the hosts. The Argentines argue it was unjust. There were no cards back then and Rattin did not understand the referee. An interpreter had to arrive and the game was stopped for more than ten minutes. A rivalry was born.
No political readings
“It’s just a football match, eh. Period. Let’s not look for anything else,” Scaloni lowers the tension from the start
An antagonism that reached its highest points in the eighties (Maradona) and in the nineties (Simeone and Beckham) and that will have a new chapter on Wednesday in Atlanta. It is the only thing missing for Leo Messi in his more than two decades of career. He already eliminated Madrid from the Champions League with Barça (2011), has won a Copa América at Maracanã against Brazil (2021), and lifted the long-awaited World Cup that was so demanded of him in Qatar (2022). Now he will have the opportunity to play against England, 40 years after Diego’s performance at the Azteca.
“It will be a special match because it is my first time. I have played against everyone except England. It is a big team, a powerhouse, and it is always nice to play against a team like that and a duel of this style,” Messi explained after qualifying against Switzerland, again full of sweat, nerves, epicness, and agony.
New Hercules test
The ten already eliminated Madrid from the Champions League, defeated Brazil in a final at Maracanã, and lifted the World Cup in Qatar that he so longed for and was demanded
It will be the third semifinal for the ten of the albiceleste, who in half of his appearances in the big event has fought for the title. The captain not only does not say goodbye but will have a finale worthy of his figure.
At 39 years old, destiny had one last Hercules test for him, a new heroism: the English, perhaps the deepest enmity of his country, one that goes beyond sports and transmits a wound that has not healed well: the Falklands War.
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No political readings
The qualifiers have been tortuous for the albiceleste: comeback in the 92nd and two agonizing wins in extra time
“It’s just a football match, eh. Let’s not look for anything else. The message is that it is a football match. Period. It is nothing more than that,” Lionel Scaloni, the coach, hurried to remind to avoid armament and controversial readings.
The albiceleste team, always with their heart in their hand, finds that mystique takes them where football cannot. Four years ago in Qatar they played well once they were freed. In the United States, they are feeding on pride and feats while waiting for brilliance to arrive.
The great right-hand man appears
In Qatar the Spider scored four goals in 467 minutes. Until Switzerland, the forward coveted by Barça had gone more than 400 without scoring
The group stage in the Argentina tournament was peaceful, the qualifiers have been tortuous, with a goal in the 92nd to come back against Egypt and goals in the 113th and 112th of extra time to eliminate Cape Verde and Switzerland. The locker room worries about the wear but prefers to value what has been achieved. “We are like this: if you don’t suffer, it’s not worth it,” highlights defender Cuti Romero. “This team never stops believing. Let people enjoy it like we do. This group got used to doing things that are not normal, because it is not normal that after winning the World Cup we are again among the top four. We have to enjoy it; we don’t know if it will happen again,” Messi asked.
For now, they can be happy that Leo is increasingly accompanied. Against Switzerland, two pillars from Qatar appeared who had not yet presented themselves. One is goalkeeper Dibu Martínez, who had good interventions. Another was Julián Álvarez, the most coveted forward of the summer who had not left a mark. In Qatar, he scored four goals in 467 minutes. Until yesterday, the Atlético forward, coveted by Barça, had gone more than 400 without scoring. Until his right-footed shot to Kobel’s top corner gave the ticket and gave Messi what he was missing. “He has a great shot and we need both, Julián and Lautaro (author of the final 3-1),” Messi stated, looking for allies against England in case mystique and morbid curiosity are not enough.
Embolo’s sending off
Switzerland’s resignation: “Rules are rules”
Ndoye had equalized (67) and three minutes later Switzerland was down to ten due to Embolo’s sending off for a second yellow card. Controversy for some because the referee had initially cautioned Argentine Paredes for committing a foul. The VAR called the referee who, faced with “clear simulation” – those were his words – appealed to a misidentification error to change the card to the other side and send off Embolo. Switzerland played 50 minutes, between regular time and extra time, with one less player. “The red card changed everything. In my opinion, it kills the match. But rules are rules and we cannot change them,” said Swiss captain Granit Xhaka. “I wouldn’t say they are being favored but it is an unacceptable rule, there was no reason for that yellow,” lamented Swiss coach Murat Yakin. In the first match in the U.S., there was already an identity change due to simulation and the yellow card passed from U.S. defender Ream to Paraguayan midfielder Almirón.
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