A falta de Messi buenos son los Di María (SPA-ENG)

In the absence of Messi, Di Marías are good

For some of those who read the title that heads this publication, the expression may sound strange, not the names. Actually, with that phrase, I pay a small tribute to my grandmother, the person who raised me with my parents and who helped me in my first steps in an activity that I like very much, sport fishing. My grandmother always had an adage, proverb, or saying for every occasion and as soon as the opportunity presents itself and my memory does not fail me, I use them because I realize that they carry with them an enormous amount of wisdom and a sense of opportunity.

In this case, in which the best player is not present in the Argentine team and things do not go as they would like, but someone appears who is not lacking in hierarchy and greatness, grabs the flag of good play and quality to lead a whole group of greats. players towards a difficult victory, she would have said: "In the absence of bread, cakes are good", it is not the best, but I manage with what I have to replace it.

Of course, this is not to belittle good Angelito Di María, at all. He is a great player that all the teams in the world would take for their team without hesitation, the problem is that he had to replace the greatest player of today, he did it in the best way, have no doubts.

I couldn't watch the whole game; the schedule wasn't the best considering that today he had to work early. I understand the economic needs of the organizers of these matches, but they deprive us of seeing our team by organizing the match in time when most people need to rest to work without problems the next day.

I saw the bizarre first half, Argentina had no less than eight clear situations to convert and could not, due to the poor precision and aim of its players, due to some providential closure, and mainly, due to the enormous work of Costa Rica's best player, his goalkeeper Keylor Navas. In their second arrival after a free header that rookie goalkeeper Walter Benítez contained without problems, Costa Rica converted their goal into a well-crafted counterattack. The first half ended with our team completely focused on the attack, neglecting the background a bit, dangerous, although necessary, the first half ended with the minimum advantage for the Central American team that occupies the 54th position in the FIFA ranking.

I went to sleep with the conviction that our team would turn it around in the second half. And that happened. A defeat did not cross my mind, especially in the same stadium where Lionel Scaloni began his successful cycle as head of the national team in 2018.

Di María disguised himself as Messi and at 6' he executed a sublime free kick that entered the upper left corner of the goalkeeper Navas who, despite the stretch, could not prevent the goal. Don't worry, Keylor, I think no other goalkeeper could have taken that shot.

After that, the resistance scheme imposed by Alfaro collapsed like a house of cards, despite some other brilliant saves they could not prevent the goals that came from Alexis Mac Allister first and then from Lautaro Martínez. By faith, Lautaro could break the losing streak without becoming a national team member.

There were several more possibilities, Rodrigo De Paul had it in an individual play that Navas covered in the best way, then Valentin Carboni had his chance and again the Costa Rica goalkeeper avoided the goal and finally, Nicolás González missed the goal alone two meters from the goal line when he watched the ball enter the goal without a defense and did not see how a defender arrived to clear it.

The second half of a high collective performance that also featured the debut of Garnacho and some minutes of Carboni, speaking of the latter, what quality this boy has, an enormous elegance in the transfer of the ball, reminds Fernando Redondo, the fans of Real Madrid will be able to attest to this even though he does not play in the same midfield position that shone in the merengue squad, in Milan in Italy and the Argentine national team.

Another victory that extends the undefeated streak and allows them to maintain first place in the FIFA ranking was won against a lower-ranking team, but we all know that these teams usually present serious difficulties to their rivals, they lock in well behind, narrowing the spaces, all They have fast and determined players to counterattack, sometimes that strategy pays off, ask Argentina itself what happened to it in its debut in Qatar 2022 against Saudi Arabia.

It is sad to think that Ángel Di María will retire from the national team, last night he showed that he still has a lot to give and also receive, mainly the affection of the fans who adore him; Furthermore, it is a perfect cake to make up for the lack of bread.