Rojo!

Day 13 WorldCup2018

They have all that firepower up front and the defender who has struggled to become a regular at his club side scores the screamer. Messi, Aguero, Higuain. Goals in them all season. But up steps Man United's Marcos Rojo to score the winner that keeps Argentina in the World Cup. What a goal it was, not quite Maxi Rodriguez in 2006 but probably a bigger goal than that.

What an evening it was for those Argentinian fans in the stadium, the thousands of them. They erupted when Messi scored his goal of awesome technical brilliance. And they almost took the roof of the stadium when Rojo's volley hit the back of the net. It was brilliant, like watching Argentina at La Bombonera or the Monumental in Buenos Aires. The Argentinians were rocking the St. Petersburg stadium. For that spectacle alone how could you not want Argentina to stay in the World Cup?

Earlier, in complete contrast, Denmark and France played out the first 0-0 draw of this tournament. It was a real 0-0, the kind of 0-0 that Americans shake their head at and make jokes about kissing your sister. It was dire. It was turgid. The BBC commentators and analysts were angry that 22 (plus subs) professional footballers could go out and put on that kind of display, devoid of any sort of passion. The point that confirmed how bad it was happened towards the end of the first half when Denmark had a quick counter attack and were about to break into the Danish penalty area but a few passes later were back at the edge of their own penalty box.

But back to passion, what better demonstration of it was there than Maradona's double middle finger salute after Rojo's goal to anybody who had dared taunt him. It's sad seeing the physical and mental state of, questionably, the greatest footballer ever and he has done some despicable things in his past, but you can not question his love for Argentina and it's football. His public display of emotion is probably safer to discuss than Shaqiri and Xhaka's double eagle gesture to the Serbian fans after their goals for Switzerland last weekend. Too political. I thought about addressing it on the day but decided not to go down that road. Maradona is an easier subject, despite his complexities.