You have to know how to lose with dignity, but do you also have to know how to win? Regarding this question, not sure that the Argentines have the answer. Since their World Cup final won against the France team, the Albiceleste players have not really stood out for their class. Quite the contrary. Between the insults, and the provocations of all kinds, the men of Didier Deschamps are served.
First craftsman of these mockeries, Emiliano Martinez. After an obscene celebration with the trophy for best goalkeeper at the level of the crotch and a minute of silence demanded in the locker room to make fun of Kylian Mbappé, the Aston Villa goalkeeper was especially surprised on the players’ bus crossing Buenos Aires with a doll, still bearing the image of number 10 of the Blues, in her arms.
VIDEO. Photo of Mbappé burned, skid of Martinez, the French star still in the sights of the Argentines
“It should not be taken as a lack of respect for Mbappé, explains Renato Civelli, the former Argentine defender of Nice, back home. Here he is the best player in the world… Behind Messi. »
But then how to explain this untimely chambering? “Dibu”, as the Albiceleste goalkeeper is nicknamed, is only the symbol of an entire Argentinian team which regularly exceeds the limits. “There is this desire to chamber, to win and to humiliate even the opponent. It’s such a powerful football culture. The cult of victory is exacerbated. France can live without being world champion. They would have been a real national tragedy, ”explains Fabien Archambault, specialist in sports culture in Argentina.
But their chamberings do not only date from the final. In the quarters already against the Netherlands, 18 cards had been distributed after numerous provocations, such as those of Leandro Paredes.
“Win or Die”
Already known for being “hot-blooded” when he played for PSG, the current Juventus midfielder was on the verge of causing a general fight after drawing two very muscular tackles in a row and then swinging the ball on the bench. of Dutch touch.
“He’s a provocateur, who just makes a mess. (…) In Argentina, it is not possible not to fight on a field. We go a little beyond the limits when we play for the selection. And in these cases, it only takes one or two players more excited than the others for it to unpin, ”former international Angel Marcos told us after the meeting. But then, why so much hatred on the ground?
“It is linked to the importance of football, an inseparable element of their identity as a country. We therefore end up creating binary oppositions. Win or die. Everything is good to crack the opponent. The Argentinians don’t feel like they’re going too far, because that’s how they experience football on a daily basis, ”explains Fabien Archambault. Comments confirmed by Renato Civelli: “It’s difficult to explain but we have more determination, which leads us to do inappropriate things. It is a culture. When you enter a field, the important thing is to win. You have to give everything, everything. »
However, the insults uttered on the field or in the locker room are shocking, like those of Sergio Agüero, the ex-international, who called Eduardo Camavinga “Head of b***” on social networks. “For them, it’s not that bad. We can interpret this as bad taste, vulgarity or even racism. In Argentina, as long as it remains within the framework of football, it is tolerated and even the Argentinian public expects it, ”decrypts Fabien Archambault. This sports historian even tells us an edifying anecdote: “In Buenos Aires, there are two Jewish clubs. Fans can go so far as to throw soaps at each other to tell their opponents that they can wash when they go to the concentration camp…”
“It’s madness what’s going on here”
But the real surprise among all Argentine players is the attitude of Lionel Messi during this World Cup. Much more involved and even in invective as during an interview after the quarter-final against the Netherlands. “What are you looking at, silly?” Go over there ! ” had launched the sevenfold Golden Ball to Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, double scorer for the Netherlands.
“It’s something he’s never shown before. In his career, he had rarely been seen with that face, saying one word louder than another or getting angry. Now that he is starting to do it, he takes the whole team behind him, Javier Pastore explained in our columns the day after the match. Argentina needs to have players who have a big character, a big temperament. »
VIDEO. World Cup: the champions return to Buenos Aires, a holiday Tuesday in Argentina
An aggressiveness that we find on a daily basis in the Argentine championship. “It’s much more physical, more intense. It is much less beautiful to see. What matters here is the fear of losing or not. If you’re not physically strong, it’s complicated, ”says Renato Civelli, who ended his career there. The former defender of Lille or even Marseille is still surprised at the total dedication of the people behind the selection during this World Cup: “There is over-motivation. For Messi’s last World Cup and more. It’s madness what’s been going on here for a month. “Provided that the madness remains politically correct…