Contributed by Sir Jorge OrdunaYou know countries are desperate for national Soccer glory when they erase the past on their controversial past and allow them a chance at redemption, even if it is not exactly a 180 in regards to moral issues. But when you're not on top of the Latin American soccer world, desperate times call for desperate measures. So it is no surprise to this psuedo-reporter that Argentina has flip flopped in favor of putting soccer legend Diego Maradona as head coach of the National soccer team.
Argentina has a long history of great soccer, but with the recent World Cup performances lacking that impressive swagger that Argentina fans used to brag about, maybe this move was one that was a long time coming. It seems a bit awkward considering that similar moves to get former stars into the coaching arena hasn't really panned out for other countries. For instance, Mexico's former coach Hugo Sanchez, failed to bring his skills from the field off the field and bring home a World Cup birth. So what makes Argentina think that Maradona could make a miracle happen? One might argue that comparing the two former icons of Latin American soccer is like comparing apples to oranges, but there are similarities in the coaching style that former players often exhibit right into the losers corner.
While Mexico battles drug cartels, Peru sees increasing violence, Honduras battles cult uprisings, and so much more going on at the same time around the world, maybe Argentina is banking on distractions to help them cruise into a world cup victory in 2010. Reactions have been mixed in regards to this announcement and the media is awash in praise or backhanded compliments over this somewhat familiar move for American news readers.
Maradona has hit the ground running so far, with a great win over Venezuela, in a World Cup qualifying match on Saturday. The 4-0 victory is the first one under the prodigal's helm. With Diego's sordid past in front of the minds of many soccer fans, it is not too outlandish to think that Venezuela might not have taken the Argentina squad seriously, but then again, this whole thing is somewhat of a shock to a more conservative and outspoken Latin American soccer world.
Everyone loves a rags to riches story, but who doesn't love a rags to riches to rags to riches story? Afterall, if our hero's fail for a long time, isn't the triumph so much greater? It seems that Hollywood has a good time structuring stories like this into sordid dramas of loss and triumph to millions of dollars. Maybe this is just Argentina's million dollar movie; in real life.
Image- Goal.com
Online Sources- Goal.com, washingtonpost.com, ESPN.com
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