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Argentina is World Cup-bound. Was there ever any doubt?

October 15, 2009 10:57 AM | Posted by   John Molinaro  

It went down to the wire, but Argentina managed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

A 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo on Wednesday, secured thanks to an 84th-minute goal from Mario Bolatti, allowed the Albicelestes to stamp their passport for South Africa next summer.

Well, will wonders never cease?

To hear the critics and pundits tell it, the South American powerhouse was in serious danger of missing out on next year's festivities, and that their eventual World Cup qualification was a miracle on par with the loaves and the fishes.

Don't you believe it for a second, folks.

Mass hysteria overblown

The mass hysteria surrounding Argentina the past few months was blown way out of proportion, a lot of it fuelled by a personal and irrational dislike that so many have for manager Diego Maradona.

To be sure, Argentina made heavy work of it and struggled throughout the South American qualifiers, but it would have been foolish to believe the two-time world champions wouldn't eventually qualify for the World Cup.

Critics pointed out that Diego's team under-whelmed in the South American qualifiers, and that they might not grab one of the four automatic World Cup berths.

But here's the salient point that everyone, including the Argentine press hacks, seemed to overlook: even if Argentina finished fifth, they still would've been in good shape because all that would've stood in their way to earning a World Cup berth would be a two-game playoff against the fourth-best team from CONCACAF.

Will all due respect to CONCACAF, does anybody actually think that Costa Rica would stand a chance against Argentina?

Me neither.

Poor qualifying record doesn't mean poor World Cup

And as far as Argentina's poor record in qualifying (eight wins and six losses - including a humiliating 6-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Bolivia) being a sign of things to come, well, don't you believe that, either.

Let's not forget that mighty Brazil struggled in the build up for the 2002 World Cup, losing a whopping six games during the South American qualifiers, which led to many questioning their credentials.

What happened? Brazil went on to defeat Germany in the 2002 World Cup final.

The point is this: a strong qualification campaign doesn't guarantee World Cup success.

That being said, there's no denying that Maradona does have a lot of work to do before next summer. Problems with Argentina's thread-base defence have to be addressed, the team lacks steel and grit in midfield, and Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain (curiously overlooked by Maradona up to this point) has to one of the first names on the teamsheet.

To say nothing of the fact that Maradona is tactically naïve and, with all due respect, not up to the job. Argentina would be wise to show El Diego the door and instil a proper and experienced manager, and the sooner the better.

But to write off Argentina now, eight months before a ball has been kicked at the World Cup, is the height of ridiculousness.

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