One day, angel di maria Y lionel scaloni they shared the selection, but they were rivals. Argentina said goodbye to the 2006 World Cup in Germany and José Pékerman did not want to take risks in the last friendly: the biggest against the Sub 20, behind open doors at the Monumental.
On one side, a skinny and elusive left winger from Rosario Central, on the other a dynamic midfielder who had already had eight seasons in Europe at the time. “What would he have imagined…? If it was already done. I had shared the field with Riquelme, Tévez, Masche, Sorín, Ayala… It was the most beautiful thing that could happen to me at that age. It didn’t even cross my mind that night that, in the next World Cup, I was going to be representing my country”, says Ángel. He was 18.
And there was no more. Since then, four World Cups in a row, just like Diego Maradona, just like Javier Mascherano. Qatar appears. “Fourth World Cup…, yes, the truth is that I can’t believe it. It’s amazing and I feel very proud of my work during all this time. I received a lot of criticism, but I have played 124 games in the national team, I think that not everyone can achieve that. I enjoy it like the first time.
A custom will remain unchanged, as happened in South Africa, Brazil, Russia and, last Wednesday in Abu Dhabi, when, with two goals, he was the great figure in Argentina’s 5-0 victory in the friendly against the United Arab Emirates: before After each game, on the way to the stadium, Ángel will call Diana, his mother, to give him the ‘blessing’, as he calls this intimate contact even though an ocean separates them. The moment takes them back to the childhood of ‘Fideo’, between the ages of 7 and 14, when Diana took him to train at the Rosario Central sports city aboard ‘Graciela’: yes, the rusty yellow bicycle had a name, companion until they were stolen.
What extra responsibility do you, Messi and Otamendi carry in front of the group, since for many it will be the first World Cup?
“I don’t know if responsibility is the word. I think it’s more about bringing peace of mind to them. They have already won the Copa América, they have already played many games with this shirt. So, you don’t need to talk to them that much either. Actually, better, it’s more about helping them, but be careful, as they also help us. They are cheeky in the best sense. They play, they try, if they lose they try again, they are not afraid. And that is very important in the selection”.
How did you achieve that team spirit? On social networks they look like schoolboys going on an excursion…
“It is a spectacular group, it is true, with good humor but also a lot of professionalism and commitment to the team. They all want to be and are strong in the head. Luckily, many, although they are young, already know what it means to be a champion with the national team”.
At one point in the Scaloni process, you were outside and you got angry…
“But our relationship is spectacular. Many people spoke many things, they said nonsense. We never had any problems. He said who was coming, who wasn’t, and there were times when I had to be there and others when I wasn’t. I always told him that he wanted to be there, that if he had to send me to the bank, there were no problems”.
Was he freaked out by that last tear a few weeks ago? How much do you think physical anxiety plays so close to the World Cup?
“Whenever you have an injury, close to the World Cup, you get scared. That is undeniable. But, you know?, my head is calm and now I interpret that when things happen it is because they have to happen. One never chooses ugly things. They happen, they appear. What does depend on one is, first, assimilating that they can touch you, and second, that from that moment you have to do your best to overcome it. I learned it with time, of course, and experience.
From the fight with Sampaoli to a new World Cup
This WhatsApp message came from July 2, 2018: “Although there was no one else, I wanted to stay until the end. That’s why I’m just leaving today ”, could be read.
More than two days had passed since the elimination with France in the round of 16 of the World Cup in Russia, and Di María was the last player to leave the Argentine concentration in Bronnitsy. He was resisting. He was poisoned with Jorge Sampaoli (Argentina’s coach in that World Cup) and the annoyance would continue for who knows how long. Rebel, he remained in force. How many goals has he scored since then between PSG and Juventus? 43. And how many assists did he deliver? 67.
The entire small table of the national team left after Russia, from Mascherano to Higuaín, from Biglia to ‘Kun’ Agüero, from Rojo to Banega… except for them. Messi, of course. And the. Angel. He now jokes and swears that he has not made any bets with Wojciech Szcesny, the goalkeeper from Poland, his teammate at Juventus. Qatar challenges him.
What World Cup do you think will be seen in Qatar? Do you have candidates?
“If we think of candidates for the World Cup… and France comes to mind immediately. For being the champion, for the quantity and quality of players it has. But the World Cups can be treacherous, it is difficult to expand that list… Germany and Spain could be mentioned, too, but at the same time they are going through replacement processes, they have many young footballers and it is not clear what can happen or how they will react in a tournament as big as a World Cup”.
And Argentina?
“We are here to fight anyone. We are competitive. We can fight to win the World Cup. We are in a good moment, we arrived well, we won the Copa América and the final in Italy, the group is consolidated. We are going to fight every game, that’s for sure”.
Do they know that they have aroused great expectations and that many believe that they are the great favorites?
“Yes, of course, a World Cup and it is something unique and there is an immense expectation. I read that the tickets for all our stadiums were sold out and that in Argentina this World Cup is lived with great enthusiasm. And that illusion is also ours. I think that all this is something very nice, we realize everything in the group, and the networks help us to see the passion of the Argentines as well”.
And, personally, you went from the fiercest criticism to idolatry…
“I know many who bankrolled me even in bad times and, today, I also thank those who bitched me because they made me keep fighting to achieve my goal, the one I had inside, and that was to win something with the national team.”
From the day you debuted in the National Team, against Paraguay, in 2008, only you and Messi remain active. He has spent his entire career in the National Team alongside him, he knows him like few others. How do you see him today, how is he? He seems very focused on Qatar.
“For me, being by Leo’s side is everything. He is the best in the world. The ‘Dwarf’ is an alien, I won’t get tired of saying it. And I say it again: playing with Leo is the best thing that happened to me in my career. We have spent many years together in the national team and I was even able to play on the same team with him, because seeing him every day is much more beautiful. Sharing the pitch with Leo is a dream come true. He is very mature, very committed.
How do you help Messi on the pitch?
“I always try to connect with him, look for him, but also understanding that, although he can solve the play, you don’t always have to give it to him. Or you have to think about when it should be given. You have to give it near the area, not before. What happens is that you look at him in practice, up close, and you say ‘it can’t be true, what I’m seeing isn’t real’… But even though he’s an alien, sometimes you have to make other decisions. For him, for the team, and this group has already assimilated that.”
Maradona took him to his first World Cup (2010), and this will be the first World Cup in Argentina without Maradona. What does it represent for you, for the group? Do they talk about him?
“Personally, Diego is everything. Diego is everything to me. He trusted me when no one else did, just for that I already owe him everything. And that goal I scored in the Copa América final…, that goal at the Maracana, like that… I’m sure Diego gave me a little hand from above. Diego left us, but he will always be there ”.
Cristian Grosso
Special envoy of La Nación (Argentina-GDA)
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