3 reasons why the World Cup wouldn’t be the same without Argentina
By Dan Steeden
No chance to re-kindle historic rivalries
Each World Cup brings about another chance for nations to enact revenge on their fiercest rivals, or indeed forge bitter new rivalries. Do you reckon any Ghanaians are huge fans of Uruguay after 2010? No, though sadly they also need a qualification miracle if they want another chance to beat Uruguay in 2018. Rivalries always bring excitement in football, and Argentina have two big rivals in international football.
Brazil are La Albiceleste’s sworn enemies in football, and the ‘Battle of the South Americans’ is one of the most thrilling rivalries in football. The games, played between two sides that are always amongst the top of the FIFA world rankings, are never lacking in talent and passion.
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The atmosphere inside whatever stadium the fixture is being played in is guaranteed to be electric. This is not only because South American fans have a reputation for being some of the most zealous in the world, but also because this fixture is often of huge interest to neutral fans.
The games also provide a platform for some of the world’s best individual players to clash. Whether it is Garrincha and Di Stéfano, Messi and Neymar, or the legendary Pelé and Maradona, there is always a narrative of interest unfolding. Both sets of fans believe their player is better, and these games are the best chance to prove it once and for all.
The Argentinians also have an intercontinental rivalry with England, and the World Cup provides the main opportunity for these sides to face one another. The 1982 Falklands War has given this rivalry a political edge, but there have been on-pitch controversies that have contributed too.
The aforementioned ‘Hand of God’ is not something that has been forgotten by many English football fans, and the Argentinians aren’t likely to forget Geoff Hurst’s quarterfinal winner in 1966 that the South Americans claimed was offside. Nor are they likely to forgive German referee, Rudolf Kreitlein for Antonio Rattín’s controversial red card in the same game.
With Brazil and England both having qualified for the 2018 World Cup already, the pressure is on Argentina to make it to Russia so these tempestuous rivalries can be played out on the biggest stage of them all once again.