Not much being said in the English-speaking press on the South American situation, but the Spanish press is taking light of the intrigue that is brewing. For the most part, attention has been focused on the new [especially in England] football cliché of Maradona on the verge of disaster. Perhaps some ’86 sentiments being carried over? Only God knows. Who, according to Maradona, is Maradona. Read here and here for more on the English Anti-Maradonism. Even so, the infatuation with the slayer of the ’86 team led to minute-by-minute updates on the Peru match.
By now we all know that Argentina barely eked out a win against already-eliminated Peru, 2-1, with a winner coming in injury time from a player who is a desperation call-up–he hadn’t been in the national team in 10 years (!!). In his last, and only, spell, he missed three penalties in a single match. Maradona, obviously grasping for a miracle, put Martin Palermo on the team for the Peru match and he responded by scoring the winning goal in the 93rd minute, veiled by the driving Atlantic rain. From the ensuing kick-off, Peru hit the cross bar with a wildly speculative shot. And let’s not forget that another exile was returned surprisingly by Maradona, and did quite well: Pablo Aimar. Had these moves backfired, no doubt that Diego’s ample belly would be skinned and tanned!
Now begin the controversies being picked up by some other press sources. In Spain, Marca report that some of the Peruvians claim that Argentine players were asking them to “go easy” to help out their cause. Not to mention a dubious non-call on a clear penalty committed by Argentina. All the while, there have been inevitable accusations of bribes circulating (bribing some teams to play better and others to lose). The Ecuador-Uruguay match, won by Uruguay yet crucial for both teams, has triggered accusations that the referee was pro-Uruguayan, with the Ecuadorian federation claiming they have proof.
The last day of qualifying for COMNEBOL, this Wednesday, should prove to be anything but boring, as Argentina face off against neighbors Uruguay in the “clásico,” both teams in direct contention for a spot. Speaking of soccer wars, there is little tongue-biting when these nations separated by the La Plata Estuary lock horns. Their result will be meaningless for at least one team, pending the result of Ecuador’s match against Chile, already qualified.
Only one thing remains clear to me going into this crucial day in football: I don’t imagine Maradona and company will be asking Chile to take it easy come Wednesday night.
