DHAKA: World soccer has witnessed some very interesting turnaround in the last 24 hours. Chile winning the Copa America for the second time in succession almost in the similar manner against the same opposition favorite Argentina, in my opinion was not much of a surprise.
They were defending champions and implemented the right strategy in keeping the magical Messi under tight marking and keeping their cool in the eventual tie breaker after deadlock throughout 120 minutes.
In few hours from the Copa final, defending Euro champion Spain got knocked out by Italy and England humiliated by minnow Iceland. England and Spain hosts the two most competitive leagues. Now both England and Spain are out of EURO 2016.
As an unavoidable consequence of Brexit, England, perhaps, will never be seen again playing in EURO.
Not much reaction is visible from Spain and England loses. But only the loss of Argentina appears to have created tremor in Bangladesh and Argentina.
Messi, one of the very best of world soccer, has announced to retire from International matches. Six other top mates are also set to follow suit. Bangladesh followers almost worship Messi as an angel.
The matinee idol not featuring in any major tournament winning for Argentina team appears to Bangladeshi fans as if sky coming down on them.
Messi announcing retirement from international matches is a big blow. Perhaps Bangladeshis are not much interested about their own soccer that much. Abahani KC has just won a tournament after a while.
It took Chile 99 years winning its COPA championship last year at home. Otherwise, it was more or less Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina dominated tournament. Last year Argentina lost 1-4 in the tie breaker. This year they met in the group stage where Argentina won 2-1. Ironically they again met in the final this time.
Argentina was looking impregnable till the final with their ace captain in supreme touch. The present Chile team is also perhaps one of their all-time best. They destroyed strong Mexico 7-1 on the highway to championship playing quality soccer. The final was expected to produce quality contest.
Chile started with a strategy for blunting Messi deploying three to four players always populating the maneuvering space of Messi. That should have given Higuaín and others enough free spaces to exploit. Yet all Argentine moves were engineered by Messi. Others were looking pretty ordinary.
The Brazilian referee struggled initially to keep this physical game under control. One player of each team was given marching order and even Messi received yellow card. Chilean custodian Pollard (Messi’s colleague in Barcelona) alone stood like rock of Gibraltar below the bar. One of his many saves was perhaps the save of COPA history. Otherwise, the match was evenly fought with both teams failing to score from half chances.
Match drifted to extra time and when the deadlock was not broken went into tie breaker. When the first Chilean spot kick was blocked, Messi stepped in with Argentine fans all over the world hoping against the hope. Superstar imploded. The ball skied over. Advantage squandered. Chile went on winning the tie break 4-2.
Messi was devastated as was him team and worldwide followers. The crestfallen superstar failed to touch the trophy of three major tournaments World Cup and COPA twice in national color. Disgruntled with himself he announced retirement from international matches.
I have not to go very far. My two sons belong to two opposite pole. Suvro is a diehard follower of Argentina, Chelsea and Spain and Avro follows Brazil, Manchester United and Germany.
I enjoyed their facebook tussle over the last couple of hours. But, when Spain lost to Italy in EURO Suvro was looking down and out. Now he wants Germany prevail over Italy as they have knocked out his team of choice Spain.
It is professional football. No team can take it for granted. These days the competition has become wide open. Yes, sometimes a very strong team can be overwhelmed by comparatively lesser team. But professionals do not loose heart. They live to fight another day.
No team has won more laurels than Brazil. Yet they were humiliated in last world cup. This time they failed to move into business round of COPA. But sky has not fallen on them. Why seven players including Messi have to announce or consider retirement?
Olympic games is knocking on the door. Argentina without seven top players will be reduced to almost nothing. Hope they will get over the emotions soon.
For Bangladeshis, new generation soccer fans try to read history. No one will ever question about greatness of Messi. But many other great players of the past had to live without the glory of winning world championship.
Dutch star Johan Cruyff the dynamic star who engineered total football also did not feature in world cup winning team. Players like Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano did not win world cup also for their team.
Messi is still young. If he sticks to his decision and his mates follow the present generation may not see Argentina winning anything anywhere soon. It is for the greater interest of world soccer the touch artist of world soccer must reverse his decision soon.
BDST: 1427 HRS, JUN 28, 2016
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