He is 60 years old, with some gray hair and quality intact. With the Gringo Giusti it is not necessary to count that it is understood by heart, col Lad Even Valderrama is not surprising because they share a way of understanding football. “Running after a ball, that magical toy we had”, is how he defines it Jorge Luis Burruchaga that moment of playing football again that the Party for Integration grants him. But the Argentina-Holland preview is exclusive, even for whom He played two full World Cups, the seven games in Mexico 86 and the seven in Italy 90. They ask him about the possibilities of the national team and he assures that Lionel Scaloni’s team depends on him. He also explains it to Clarin.

-Is that right, Argentina depends on itself?

Yes, it depends on one. Football depends on what you do well, what you play as a team, what you help yourself, making no mistakes and hitting those you have… This game is like that, that’s why it’s a team game.

-We spoke after the defeat against Saudi Arabia and you were optimistic too.

-Yes, because it could happen, it’s not like in the NBA that you have five games. In a World Cup match everything is the same, look at Germany, look at Spain… All theories sometimes in a World Cup are left aside; you have to be effective, you have to feel good, and well, there aren’t many recipes because after that regret lasts four years.

-How do you see this match in particular, against the Netherlands?

-Difficult, will be blocked, much studied. I imagine Argentina will continue with the position it has, because it is very much identified with it. Holland waits, resists in a 3-4-1-2, is disciplined but I think it gives advantages that Argentina must exploit

So you have confidence.

-Yes, without a doubt, after what happened in Arabia the team had to react and it did, that’s the beauty of it.

Colleagues across South America are asking about the goal against Germany and Burruchaga smiles, saying it’s been the same thing for 36 years. “I’ve been lucky enough to play in two World Cups, to have played in two finals, to have won one, to score a decisive goal… I think it’s rare.”

He praises Messi, but chooses to talk about the team.

– Argentina is doing very well because they have recovered from the blow, they have improved game after game, they have won three in a row, this has done the group and the technical staff good, to be more serene. The three favorites are Argentina, France and Brazil. But Germany, Spain and others have sunk into oblivion. You realize how difficult it is to play in a World Cup. I think we, plus France and Brazil, can be in that batch of the four semi-finalists.

– Is it for you the goal that you shouldn’t give up, to be among the best four?

-Yes, that’s where I think it should always be. We now have a tough, bottom-up rival who is undefeated, unlike the greats. We’ll see what happens, but I think Argentina has everything to reach the semifinal. He got back up after a defeat, it won’t be easy because he’s a rival with a lot of experience, a coach with a lot of experience, but I think Argentina will reach that place where they always have to be, among the last four who aspire to be champions.

-If he passes, he can play in the semi-final with Brazil…

-To be world champion you can’t choose your rival. It would be an anticipated final and would hopefully be good for world football.

-And from the other side of the picture, how do you see it?

-France is very good, it’s a practical team with an unreachable arrow at the top that kills you, but sometimes makes you play, it’s to be expected, but hey, it has a spring that not many have.

Jorge Burruchaga, world champion and author of an eternal goal against Germany in 1986. Authorized word, word from the Selection.