From London, Osvaldo Ardiles talks about everything: Argentina national team, candidates for the title and even promotion of the Institute

After a difficult start against Saudi Arabia, the Argentine national team managed to turn history upside down, recovering by winning the last two matches of the group stage and advancing to the round of 16. Against Poland, Argentina not only got a ticket to the next round, but also left an unpaid debt: showing their best football on Qatari soil.

With this latest victory, the ‘Scaloneta’ renewed hopes and filled the Argentinians with expectations for next Saturday’s duel against Australia. The fans surrender at the foot of the Albiceleste and the glories of the Argentine national team are no exception.

Who came out to talk about the present of Scaloni’s cast was none other than Osvaldo César Ardiles, world champion in 1978 and authorized word to talk about the World Cup.

Cordovan spoke to Jorge ‘Petete’ Martínez and Alejandro Benvegnú on Radio Miter Córdoba, and gave an exhaustive analysis of the World Cup that Argentina are carrying out. “Last night I loved the national team. Poland were a difficult opponent, but Argentina overcame them. It was one of the best matches I’ve seen at the World Cup. Basically a great result that brings us back to the top in everything and throughout the world concert,” he began.

“I expected a lot more from Poland, but Argentina didn’t let him play, he defended himself with the ball. They didn’t have a single goal, instead we won 2-0 but we missed a penalty, we could have scored 4 or 5 goals. The difference between the two teams was very big,” added Ardiles, who was also tasked with highlighting the stellar performance of ‘Cuti’ Romero in central defence.

For the former Tottenham footballer, the defender was practically unbeatable, which is why he was encouraged to include him in the high points of the Argentina national team against Poland. He also highlighted other names: “For me, the figure on the pitch was Messi, but there was only De Paul. Yesterday was sensational, De Paul made an extraordinary performance, but not only him. Mac Allister also made a great match .” .

And it is that, despite Messi’s missed penalty, Argentina was able to stay in the game and not fall into the trap of Poland. The twelve-step failure had come at the worst possible moment, just when the Argentine could score a goal of the psychological ones, just a few minutes from going to the locker room. Subsequently, the Argentina national team captain would take his revenge based on football, but the goals would come from elsewhere.

“You know very well, missing a penalty in an important match can take a very strong blow to the soul. But that didn’t happen to Argentina, on the contrary, they continued to play and the second half was truly a show.” Ardili. And on the key points of the victory, he said: “It’s very nice to see so many young players hand in hand with the more experienced ones. Yesterday I particularly liked the midfield, because in the very first match it was the midfield that didn’t play well enough. “

Additionally, Ardiles said that months after undergoing heart surgery, he is already fully recovered. In any case, the Cordovan chose not to experience the World Cup from Qatar in order to be able to do it from England, and revealed: “I’m in London. I preferred not to go to Qatar, keep your distance. Better to experience it from here. Now I’m better healthy, and from here I can see him a little calmer. Not much, but a little calmer, ah.”

Ardiles instead spoke of the stellar entry of Enzo Fernández, and made a parallel with what was his first World Cup: “Enzo adapted very well, against Mexico and against Poland. I liked it a lot, it’s a very young player. Making your debut in a World Cup, even if you do it hand in hand with the greatest players, is not easy at all. Playing in a World Cup is something completely different. You can play many games for your club, become champion, but nothing prepares you for what it’s like to play in a World Cup.”

As for Argentina’s chances of achieving the goal, he was confident: “You can dream, you have to dream. We have a team that will burn, that will receive fuel. We had a big blow in the first game, where the criticisms were fierce. I think it was one of those hard to explain games, but it happens. What comes now, I’m not saying it’s sitting down to have fun, but the truth is that there is a team.”

And just as he was encouraged to include the Argentine national team among the candidates, Ardiles also spoke of the other teams aiming to win the World Cup: “Argentina and Brazil seem like two very strong teams to me. Then, the Europeans, which I see Spain and France better they are unemployed. Spain play very well, they have the ball all day, ah. It seems to me that this team has failed for a long time, they can’t find a goalscorer. But then they play very well, very modern football, very agile.”

Something that surprised the interviewers was that Osvaldo Ardiles did not put England on this select list. ‘Ossie’ played in English football for more than 14 seasons, wearing shirts for Tottenham, Blackburn, Queens Park Rangers and Swindon Town. With the ‘Spurs’ shirt, Ardiles reached the pinnacle of his career, which is why Harry Kane’s prominent role in the England team stands out.

However, he does not see England as one of the candidates, explaining: “From England, I think they will be a very difficult opponent for anyone. In the end, even if they don’t play well, they put the ball in the box and ‘They are very difficult to stick up for. Personally, I don’t think they will be enough to win the World Cup. I think they need an extra point which England don’t have. “

Finally, the former Argentina international midfielder was tasked with speaking about Instituto’s recent promotion to the First Division. The Córdoba man wore the colors of ‘La Gloria’ during his early days in football, and expresses: “It’s the club where I grew up, the one that made me. I can’t forget all the people who made me what I am, for which I got what I got. It’s very difficult to be promoted to the First Division, especially being an inside team. It’s a big undertaking, so the truth is that I’m very happy.”