World Champions humbled in Buenos Aires

Being the current world champions has many benefits, one of which is that Spain now have the opportunity to play a series of lucrative friendlies against prestigious opponents from around the globe. They have already drawn 1-1 against Mexico in the Azteca and have arranged a friendly with Iberian rivals Portugal, but most recently they travelled to Buenos Aires to play against Argentina in River Plate’s Monumental Stadium.

Argentina with Diego Maradona in charge, had a disappointing World Cup, losing to Germany 4-0 in the quarter final. Now, with former U20 coach Sergio Batista in a caretaker role, there was an opportunity for a fresh start. Controversial absentees at the World Cup – Javier Zanetti, Esteban Cambiasso and Gabriel Milito – were all recalled and the front trio of Messi, Tevez and Higuain remained in place in what was a formidable looking line-up.

Nonetheless, Spain decided to rest a number of their World Cup stars, including Xavi, Casillas, Puyol and Fernando Torres. Although when their replacements include Cesc Fabregas, Pepe Reina and David Silva you can hardly accuse them of complacency.

Much of the focus during the World Cup for Argentina was on Lionel Messi, with people asking why he cannot perform for his country at the same level as he does for Barcelona. He was, unfairly in my opinion, cast as the scapegoat for Argentina’s failure. In reality he produced probably the two best individual performances in the tournament – against Nigeria and South Korea – and his failure to score was due to exceptional goalkeeping and bad luck rather than him playing poorly. Granted, he was below par against Germany but it was not his fault that the defence conceded four goals. There were even mutterings that Messi did not care about playing for Argentina because he had moved to Spain when he was 13.

This match – against his adopted nation – was Messi’s chance to prove to the Argentine public that he can perform in the blue and white shirt and that he truly is the best player in the world. He required just nine minutes to underline his class. Picking the ball up inside the centre circle, he ran at the retreating defence before playing a one-two with Tevez and scoring with an impudent chip over Reina from close range.

Things went from bad to worse shortly after. Tevez shrugged off a challenge from Xabi Alonso and played a delightful through pass for Higuain to round the goalkeeper and slot home from a tight angle. Tevez added a third before half time, the goal coming in comical fashion. Reina slipping just as he was about to clear a backpass upfield and Tevez being the quickest to react and sliding in to finish before Reina could recover from his error.

Argentina were fully deserving of their three goal lead at half time. Cambiasso and Banega dominated the midfield, stopping Spain from playing their short-passing style of football and Messi was in sublime form, terrorising the inexperienced Nacho Monreal down the Argentina right wing. David Villa was doing his best to get Spain back into the game, twice hitting Romero’s left hand post with shots from outside the box, once with each foot. Villa was the only Spanish player playing close to his World Cup form.

Both teams made substitutions at half time and it was Spain’s replacement goalkeeper, Victor Valdes, who prevented the World Champions from going even further behind early in the second half. The Barcelona goalkeeper producing a top class save to keep out Higuain’s goalbound effort, after another fine Argentina attack orchestrated by Messi. Another substitute for Spain, Fernando Llorente missed an easy chance, heading wide from six yards out. Llorente would later pull a goal back for Spain but not before Angel Di Maria had a goal disallowed after another magnificent dribble from Messi.

The Llorente goal gave Spain some hope of mounting a late comeback. However, Argentina restored their three goal lead when Aguero headed home on the stroke of ninety minutes. Messi was substituted to rapturous applause and the whole of Argentina was left to wonder what might have been in South Africa.

For Spain, this friendly defeat was a stark reminder that they cannot take wins for granted and that the gap between themselves and the rest of the world is a small one. It was also a warning that although they have great strength in depth and many quality young players coming through, it will be very difficult to replace the older players in the squad such as Xavi and Carles Puyol, for whom Euro 2012 may be their last tournament. No nation has ever won a treble of European and World titles consecutively and Spain still have a lot of work to do if they are to become the first country to win three in a row.

Argentina, Spain