GhostOfDixie
Player Valuation: £70m
Phew what a game.
Argentina needed to beat Peru who were bottom of their group. Otherwise the Argies would be looking at a play-off.
There is another game against Uruguay on Wed, but they needed this one.
First half was dominated by Argentina, Messi was quality as always.
During that half we learned that Maradona had actually called up 75 players to the squad over his first 11 months in charge.
Anyway, 2nd half started still goal-less until Higuain (making his debut) beat the offside trap and struck a low shot past the Peruvian goalkeeper.
However, all this did was force the Argentine side into their shell and Peru came out and started to play a bit.
Then with about 20 minutes to go it started raining. Then with about 15 minutes to go it looked like there was a hurricane over Buenios Aries. Could barely see the players, the camera was shaking, [Poor language removed] was being blown all over the place. It was torrential.
90th minute - everyone wanting to get off the pitch, the Peruvians only went and equalised. Argentina were done. Or were they?
93rd minute, in the worse conditions I have ever seen they seemed to push forward and a series of attacks were repelled - until Messi had a shot, it was deflected into the path of Martin Palermo.
Now Martin Palermo had not played for 10 years in the blue and white stripes. 10 years.
He is also known for the only person to miss 3 pens in one game.
Anyway, the ball was deflected into his path and he side footed the ball home and to surely wrap up the points for Maradona, who was seen sprinting and diving and then bouncing like one of those penguins on Yeti Sports.
Palermo meanwhile was releasing constant tension during his celebration - his shirt was off and so was he. A celebration that culminated in him posing like Andy Dufrane out of Shawhank Redemption after he had swam through his own personal river of [Poor language removed].
So Argentina win...
Or hang on, there is still the Peruvian kick off to take place, just to go through the motions, make it all official. The guy shoots from his own half, literally from the kick-off, and hits the bar. The ref gives a corner, but the keeper never touched it.
The corner resulted in nothing really. Peru tried in vain to win a penalty, but it was all over.
Maradona was crying. El Monumental looked like the swimming baths. Messi looked like he couldn't wait to get back to the Camp Nou to play with some people who were actually good enough to be graced by his presence.
Anyway it finished 2-1 to Argentina - really enjoyed the spectacle. The Uruguay game on Wednesday should be a classic.
Argentina needed to beat Peru who were bottom of their group. Otherwise the Argies would be looking at a play-off.
There is another game against Uruguay on Wed, but they needed this one.
First half was dominated by Argentina, Messi was quality as always.
During that half we learned that Maradona had actually called up 75 players to the squad over his first 11 months in charge.
Anyway, 2nd half started still goal-less until Higuain (making his debut) beat the offside trap and struck a low shot past the Peruvian goalkeeper.
However, all this did was force the Argentine side into their shell and Peru came out and started to play a bit.
Then with about 20 minutes to go it started raining. Then with about 15 minutes to go it looked like there was a hurricane over Buenios Aries. Could barely see the players, the camera was shaking, [Poor language removed] was being blown all over the place. It was torrential.
90th minute - everyone wanting to get off the pitch, the Peruvians only went and equalised. Argentina were done. Or were they?
93rd minute, in the worse conditions I have ever seen they seemed to push forward and a series of attacks were repelled - until Messi had a shot, it was deflected into the path of Martin Palermo.
Now Martin Palermo had not played for 10 years in the blue and white stripes. 10 years.
He is also known for the only person to miss 3 pens in one game.
Anyway, the ball was deflected into his path and he side footed the ball home and to surely wrap up the points for Maradona, who was seen sprinting and diving and then bouncing like one of those penguins on Yeti Sports.
Palermo meanwhile was releasing constant tension during his celebration - his shirt was off and so was he. A celebration that culminated in him posing like Andy Dufrane out of Shawhank Redemption after he had swam through his own personal river of [Poor language removed].
So Argentina win...
Or hang on, there is still the Peruvian kick off to take place, just to go through the motions, make it all official. The guy shoots from his own half, literally from the kick-off, and hits the bar. The ref gives a corner, but the keeper never touched it.
The corner resulted in nothing really. Peru tried in vain to win a penalty, but it was all over.
Maradona was crying. El Monumental looked like the swimming baths. Messi looked like he couldn't wait to get back to the Camp Nou to play with some people who were actually good enough to be graced by his presence.
Anyway it finished 2-1 to Argentina - really enjoyed the spectacle. The Uruguay game on Wednesday should be a classic.
