Argentina-Brazil Comment: Ronaldinho And Messi: When Two Geniuses Collide

The Argentina-Brazil game on Wednesday afternoon was highly anticipated for all sorts of varying reasons. First and foremost, any game between the two South American titans, be it in an end of year friendly or the World Cup final, is an incredibly important match.  Latin American editor Ariel Blanco hit the nail on the head when he told us the clasico represents “the pride and necessity of knowing you are the best on the continent which can only come from measuring yourself against Brazil.” Aside from this fight for pride and glory, there were myriad sub-plots for the viewer to appreciate. The battle between rookie international coaches Mano Menezes and Sergio Batista, as they hoped to establish the love of the domestic fans in the quickest manner possible: by beating the old enemy. The chance to see new, unheralded talent take the stage with both teams renewing after the World Cup. An opportunity to see the two giants measure each other up before an almost inevitable meeting in the latter stages of the Copa America. One of the most intriguing aspects of the clash however, for both sets of fans as well as undoubtedly the neutral, was the anticipated meeting of Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho, former team-mates at Barcelona, on opposite sides of the pitch: one in the celeste y blanca of Argentina, the other donning the canarinha of Brazil. With two of the world’s most talented players on the pitch we expected great things to come; and overall, we were not disappointed. The game was important for both players, who continue to have something to prove at international level. For all his sparkling talent, Messi is still to convince many Argentines that he gives his all for the Albiceleste in the same way as he does for Barcelona, and that he can bring his best without the creative talents of Xavi and Andres Iniesta by his side. Ronaldinho’s case was even more desperate. Frozen out for much of Dunga’s unpopular reign, the 30-year-old knew that this, if not a last throw of the dice was at the least a vital game for him to show he was still an international class player. Judging by the Milan man’s performance on Wednesday, he should be around in the Selecao for some time yet. This was by no means a vintage display by the Brazilian: the tricks, flicks and mazy dribbles from the left were not particularly apparent, superfluous in a fast and direct Brazil outfit. Instead the veteran of the side played as a traditional enganche; he would trap the ball outside the Albiceleste area, draw the defence and then release Dani Alves or Andres Santos steaming down the flanks. In this manner the ball rained in from the sidelines, and but for Sergio Romero being on top form and the stark lack of a centre forward, the tactic would surely have paid off for Menezes’ side. Ronaldinho himself must have sent Mano apoplectic with his only real indulgence of the game, midway through the first half. Finding himself one-on-one with Romero after a half-cleared set piece was fired back in, the performer had his back to goal with time to turn; ever the tribunero (crowd-pleaser) though, he instead opted for the backheel, which rolled kindly into Romero’s hands. Messi on the other hand, along with the rest of the Argentina XI took their time to settle into the game. Right from the outset he and Javier Pastore looked to imprint Batista’s philosophy of measured, one-touch football and constant movement as the two were lined up as the twin creative axes of the side. It was not happening though, as a Brazil side if seemingly limitless energy swarmed across the pitch from ball to ball, disrupting the Seleccion’s rhythm and stopping these two immensely talented youngsters from forming a feared partnership. You cannot take your eyes off ‘La Pulga’ for a minute though. Midway through the period he set off on a seemingly innocuous run in his own half; and after the ball was shifted effortlessly through Pastore, Ever Banega and Javier Zanetti the little genius found himself seconds later with space on the edge of the area - a couple of inches was the difference between a close shot and one of the team goals of the year. The game continued in a similar manner after the break. Ronaldinho kept searching, kept probing to break open the Argentina defence, but he was largely let down by the strike partnership of Robinho and Neymar in front of him. Neymar looked electric at times with the ball at his feet, but he desperately lacks experience and maturity; in a positional sense more than anything, as proved by the many times he saw a cross or pass plucked from his feet by Romero after failing to get on the right side of the number one. The Milan maestro was eventually withdrawn after 73 minutes, and Brazil’s last chance of winning the game seemed to leave with him. Messi meanwhile was galvanised by the exit of Gonzalo Higuain and the entrance of the more dynamic, proactive Ezequiel Lavezzi. The two started to combine ominously and the crowds drew a breath every time the Barca man surged past a defender with the ball glued to his feet. No-one could have predicted how it would end for him though. In the 92nd minute, and with the game almost certainly finishing a draw, ‘La Pulga’ was set through by Lavezzi and raced forward, leaving the tiring David Luiz for dead and firing to Victor’s left from outside the box. It was a stunning strike, and the unrestrained celebrations of the game’s golden child showed what it meant to break a five-year winless run against their illustrious neighbours. Round one to Messi and Argentina then, but Ronaldinho’s solid performance demonstrates that he is more than able to be the experienced anchor which holds together an inexperienced but exuberant and mega-talented Brazil attack. Both teams have the opportunity to build a team around these two uniquely gifted individuals, and if they continue inspiring those around them it will be no surprise to see round two in a dream Argentina-Brazil Copa America final showdown, next July in the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.