Argentine football pure gold again

 

Roar Guru

By Alan Nicolea, 25 Aug 2008 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru

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Like four years ago in Athens, Argentina are the Olympic football champions. They beat Nigeria 1-0 in a game that was even until Di Maria provided the clinical finish to give Argentine football it’s second consecutive gold medal.

For Argentina, it was a play of pure vertigo. The only way in breaking the monotony of a very even contest. The chip from Di Maria over the Nigerian goalkeeper, which is now apart of Argentine football folklore, gave the South Americans their second consecutive gold medal in Olympic football.

It was the necessary difference in providing ‘La Seleccion’ with the Olympic football crown and casting a team full of expectation into raptures.

The opening minutes of the final were a reflection of what was to come for the majority of the match. Argentina played their usual, flawless passing game while the Nigerians stood back and waited for a steal in possession to go on the counter attack.

Despite hardly going on the offensive, Nigeria showed plenty of steel and form in defence. Argentine stars Riquelme, Messi, Aguero and Di Maria seemed to be always thwarted by a poor final pass and the presence of a Nigerian defender who disturbed the South American’s rhythm.

While Argentina dominated possession, Nigeria had the best opportunity of the first half to claim the lead and perhaps repeat their 1996 gold medal triumph in Atlanta over the albiceleste.

Odemwingie failed to connect with a low cross that caused havoc for the Argentine defence. The danger was gone and it provided the reigning Olympic champions with a severe wake-up call.

Nigeria almost had the lead and knew full well that this game was for the taking. The rest of the first half provided few opportunities, with a Di Maria shot from outside the box the finale of what was a tight 45 minutes of football.

At the start of the second half, Argentina displayed a new attitude. The influence of Messi, which was non-existent at the start of the match, played a brilliant through ball for Sergio Aguero which amounted to nothing.

With championship pressure building, talent was to come to the fore.

After a deflection which landed on the feet of Messi, the Barcelona midfielder played a through ball to forward sensation Di Maria, who provided little deception in scoring Argentina’s first goal – a delightful finish from a gifted player.

For the rest of the match, Nigeria were sparked into action (as they should have been in an Olympic final). The African’s made Argentina work hard and complicated their cause for back to back gold.

There were scares aplenty for Sergio Batista’s men as Nigeria went close on occasion’s to forcing the match into extra time.

Argentina were made to suffer, as teams generally do when they are on the cusp of achieving glory.

But time eventually condemned the Nigerians to silver as the Argentine’s once again repeated the triumph achieved in Athens four years ago. Their signature in Olympic football will remain clear come London 2012.

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