Moa Jamir
Football is beautiful and uplifting, yet it is filled with heartbreaking moments, which in the process, makes the game more endearing. One month of football extravaganza – the UEFA EURO 20202 and the Copa América Championship - in two separate but biggest continents for the game has reaffirmed the same.
Other than the apparent spectacle the games offer, away from the pandemic zeitgeist, some scripted redemptive tales, others rose from the ashes like the proverbial phoenix, but many suffer ultimate agony in the arena in the gallant quest to resurrect their nations’ footing in the beautiful game. Win or loss, however, they were heroes in both tears of joy and sorrow.
The first redemptive tale was scripted by the Lionel Messi-led Argentina which beat Brazil in the final to lift the Copa América Championship. Unbelievably for a team of such stature, it was the first international title in 28 years for Argentina national team, also known as La Albicelestes, for its signature sky blue and white uniform. The team last won Copa América in 1993.
For many, more importantly, it was the christening of Argentina’s talismanic striker Messi as the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in the game and settlement of ‘raging’ debate among football fans. Despite reaching the finals on four separate occasions (2014 FIFA World Cup and 2007, 2015, 2016 Copa América), an international title of repute for his national team was still elusive for Messi.
The over-hanging title drought ended with Saturday’s victory at Maracana Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the site of the painful 2014 World Cup final against Germany. Messi’s brief announcement of retirement after suffering two consecutive defeats as captain in the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals, both on penalties against Chile exemplifies the angst, and how the 2021 title has filled the biggest gaps in his illustrious career. The narrative is no different for Angel Di Maria, a fellow traveller and sufferer, who redeemed years of frustration with the winning goal at Maracana.
On the other side of the Atlantic on Sunday, yet another redemption story was completed as Roberto Mancini’s Italy lifted the European Championship for the first time since 1968, by beating England 3-2 on penalties.
However, for Italy, it was an incredible rise from the proverbial ashes. The country’s glorious stature in football reached its nadir by failing to qualify for the last edition of the World Cup in Russia.
Mancini’s tenacious hand has scripted an Italian renaissance, and The Azzurri, who emerged as the best team in Europe on Sunday, are now on a record-breaking 34-match unbeaten run.
As is the nature of the game, while one team wins, the other suffers heartbreak, often with haunting familiarity.
It was déjà vu as the ‘penalty curse’ returned to England on Sunday and the nation’s quest for a major international title since the 1966 World Cup ended in collective dejection again. And instead of ‘coming home,’ it went to Rome, this time around. In the aftermath, the strategy of England manager, Gareth Southgate would be hotly debated; however, The Three Lions, who have captured the nation’s imagination over the month, perhaps, are the harbinger of things to come.
In victory, there is redemption; in defeat, there is hope; this is the essence of the beautiful game.
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