Cheer Up Argentina, It Could Be Worse: Argentina 0-5 Colombia, 1993 – The Other Home Defeat

After all the build-up and all the hype, once the mud-slinging and patriotic chest-beating were put to one side and Brazil went mano a mano with Argentina on the football pitch there was only one winner. Brazil under Dunga may not always produce the slick, stylish joga bonito for which the Seleção are so famous, but in Rosario it did not matter. Instead Brazil were cold-blooded and remorseless, finding the weaknesses in Argentina’s game and exploiting them callously.

The game finished 3-1, but the gulf in class between the two sides was so pronounced it warranted more, if for no other reason than to expose just how superior the Brazilians are to Argentina right now. These are supposed to be two of the best international sides in world football. Only one can even dare claim anything of the sort. “Argentina have better players than Brazil,” Maradona stated in what was a heated build-up to the game. The claim looks laughable right now.

Defeat against Brazil was only Argentina’s second ever in a World Cup qualifying match at home. This is the story of the first:

Argentina 0-5 Colombia, September 1993 - Monumental shocker

In the early 1990s, Argentina were a side to be feared. Winners of the Copa America twice running, in 1991 and 1993, Los Albicelestes, boasting a talented squad that included a formidable young striker by the name of Gabriel Batistuta, were a force to be reckoned with.

Drawn in a World Cup qualifying group with Peru, Paraguay and Colombia it was thought that making it to USA 1994 would be quite straightforward for coach Alfio Basile and his men. They were, after all, on an incredible unbeaten run that eventually stretched to 33 games, before defeat to a Carlos Valderrama-inspired Colombia, 2-1 away in August 1993.

This was thought to be no more than a minor blip en route to the World Cup for Argentina. If anything it gave them an exciting opportunity to exact revenge in what would be the final qualifying game, to be played at River Plate’s ground, the iconic Estadio Monumental.

On 5th September 1993, Colombia travelled to the Monumental above Argentina in the group and knowing that a draw or win would see them through and condemn their hosts to the drama of a play-off. This was a talented Colombia side, one of the finest in Los Cafeteros history. The names roll off the tongue – Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla, Freddy Rincon, Adolfo ‘El Tren’ Valencia. But Argentina were Argentina – yet to be beaten at home in World Cup qualifying history. Little was expected other than a routine home win.

What happened on the day is brought to you by the wonders of Youtube:

Full Time Summary:
5 September 1993, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Argentina 0-5 Colombia
Goals: Rincon 41, 62, Asprilla 49, 64, Valencia 84.

Argentina: Sergio Goycochea; Julio Saldana, Jorge Borelli, Oscar Ruggeri, Ricardo Altamirano; Gustavo Zapata, Fernando Redondo (69, Alberto Acosta), Diego Simeone, Leonardo Rodriguez (54, Claudio Garcia); Ramon Medina Bello, Gabriel Batistuta.
Coach: Alfio Basile.

Colombia: Oscar Cordoba; Luis Herrera, Luis Perea, Alexis Mendoza, Wilson Perez; Leonel Alvarez, Gabriel Gomez, Carlos Valderrama, Freddy Rincon; Faustino Asprilla, Adolfo Valencia.
Coach: Francisco Maturana.

‘That’s how to play football!’ roared one Colombian newspaper the next day. It was a lesson on how to play the game, a role-reversal in which the apprentice schooled the master. The movement, speed and technique of the Colombian team, marshalled by the fuzzy-haired genius of Valderrama in midfield, was simply too much for Argentina to handle. Valderrama was the metronome, he kept everything ticking while Rincon, Asprilla and Valencia in particular skipped and fizzed around the Monumental like firecrackers. They were unstoppable.

I love the crestfallen look on Maradona’s face in the video. Sitting with supporters in the crowd, he looks as downhearted as he did in Rosario after Luis Fabiano’s second goal went in. He probably never imagined that day, 16 years earlier, that the next time Argentina lost a home game in World Cup qualifying it would be under his tenure. His face says it all, as does Valderrama’s exuberant cry of ‘iViva Colombia!’ at the end of the video, aped by the awkward but no less enthusiastic pundit. It was a fairytale win.

The high point

It was in many respects the zenith for Colombia at international level, a peak they have sadly not managed to climb anywhere near since. Colombia went to USA ‘94 brimming with optimism but were eliminated timidly, before the murder of Andres Escobar tragically brought the curtain down on a golden age for Colombian football with shock and sadness. Los Cafeteros did make it to France ‘98 but were again knocked out in the group stages. That was that for the golden generation.

Meanwhile, Argentina recovered from their 5-0 thrashing well enough to beat Australia in a play-off and secure their place at USA ‘94. However, the Albiceleste’s tournament was one of controversy. Performances were unconvincing and Maradona hit the headlines for allegedly using banned substances. After making it out of their group in 3rd as a best runner-up, Romania soon sent them packing in the round of 16 with a 3-2 win.

Fast forward to today and Argentina are struggling, again with Maradona in the headlines. This time for his suspect handling of the national team in his role as head coach. Defeat at home to Brazil will sting for a long time. But it will never quite match the bitter sense of shame and embarrassment felt on that September day back in 1993.

Argentina, Carlos Valderrama, Classic Matches, Colombia, Football in Latin America, Maradona