MOVEMENT, class, desire, shape, esprit de corps – Argentina had it all as they hammered the Serbs 6-0 in front of 52,000 in Gelsenkirchen this afternoon.
It’s a shame the BBC have no class.
The BBC are not showing the teams in formation before the kick-off.
Even World Cup junkies don’t know every player. Why not show the formations of each team before the kick-off ?
Come on, guys, you have the software !
After 6, MAXI RODRIGUEZ raced onto Saviola’s pass and scored beautifully.
I’m watching it with Michael and we saw Gabriel Heinze hugging goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri very passionately.
“Look at way he’s hugging the keeper!” I said.” It’s as if they’ve won the World Cup ! It’s only a group match. What will he do if they win the World Cup?”
“Probably hug every fan in the stadium,” he replied
After 31, CAMBIASSO played a one-two with Crespo, who set him up with a backheel, and Cambiasso blazed past the keeper.
On 35, CRESPO scored a lovely goal to make it three but the linesman flagged. Wrongly. Crespo knew he was onside and protested and was booked.
On 41, MAXI RODRIGUEZ slotted a third off the post after Saviola pinched the ball of a dawdling defender.
Diego Maradona, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, is getting rather excited. They should take Diego to a first aid room and give him a sedative and some oxygen.
HALF-TIME SCORE : 3-0
On 64, Kez,man, angry and frustrated, dived in two-footed on Mascherano and got a straight red card.
Savo Milosovic, a captain winning his 100th cap, was subbed.On 73, Crespo was clattered as he ran onto a Riquelme backheel.Was it a great tackle? The replay showed Crespo got to the ball first.
On 74, Messi, on for Maxi Rodriguez, ambled into a short free-kick by Riquelme, put the ball on a plate for Crespo at the far post and although it went in off defender Dudic, the goal was credited to Crespo.
LIONEL MESSI’S pass delivery has immense finesse. He has the skill in his feet that other humans only have on their hands. He plays passes round the penalty area like a Las Vegas croupier dealing cards round a poker table.
Another sub, the chunky, menacing Carlos Tevez, nutmegged big No.6 Gavrancic, beat the next defender, and scored with the coolest low shot of the tournament so far. And then Messi flew in on the right to make it 6-0.
THIS ARGENTINA team is everything England are not.
A well-oiled football machine where every player knows what he is doing and what every other player is doing, improvisation within a framework, an ability to demonstrate method, shape, rhythm, flair.
Rhythm, of course, grows out of method. If you don’t have your shape /structure right, you will never have rhythm, and you will never be able to play football as classy and penetrating as this.