The meaningless tournament, in the country of a national team that spreads football

Disorder and order coexist in the same house: that of the AFA. There are surprising counterpoints: while the national team led by Lionel Scaloni and Lionel Messi overflows with prestige in emblematic fields such as Maracana or Wembley, at the Professional League excitement costs horrors with one tournament starting shortly after the climax of another, with a totally opposite game format and with soccer players who can compete for different clubs on the same path and can even face the same rival twice in the same month. And more: the duel to light the fire of the Argentines’ passion is the one that sees Barracas Central and Central Córdoba in Santiago del Estero, Lanús as the protagonist this Friday.

You can gift smiling situations in this tournament. A Giovanni Carbonero Fernando Gago strongly intends it to strengthen Racing. There were already contacts between the Avellaneda management and their peers in Gymnastics. But while we talk about everything, Néstor Gorosito will use the Colombian for tomorrow’s La Plata classic against Estudiantes. On the fourth appointment, the Wolf will receive the Academy in the Forest and the attacker could play for both teams. Another thing: if he switches to Racing, he will face Estudiantes again on Matchday 18.

You can travel along a similar path Luca Beltran, that striker who could play the first 5 days in Colón and then return to River, the club that owns his pass. Who will the 21-year-old Cordovan play for when the third round led by Marcelo Gallardo will visit the Sabalero at the Elephant Cemetery?

Also it doesn’t seem wise to start a tournament in the middle of a FIFA date. It insists: as Argentina accumulate victories, titles and records in Europe, River will visit Florencio Varela with the weight loss due to the players affected by their teams: Álvarez, Armani, Paulo Díaz, De la Cruz and David Martínez. Or again: Sebastián Battaglia will start from the bench against Arsenal at the Bombonera and will save the starters for Wednesday’s Argentine Cup match against Ferro, in La Rioja.

Another surprising problem is that the subscription booklet closes on 7 Julywhen 6 championship days have already been played.

The economic crisis that the country is going through affects the institutions, of course. That’s why there aren’t any big names that turn fans on. At the time, the most sensational transfer was that made by Racing with Emiliano Vecchio, a footballer with many qualities but who had been marginalized by Rosario Central for indiscipline. The arrival that competes with that of the Old is that of Mauro Zaratewho signed with Platense after frustrated steps in América Mineiro and Juventude de Brasil.

Racing, left with blood in their eyes last semester, appears to be the great candidate to keep the title. Gago armed the team and oiled the game idea, although equally important is that both River and Boca will focus their energies on the Copa Libertadores. Students, Vélez, Colón, Talleres, Lanús and Unión will also compete internationally, so they will relegate the national championship, at least in the first matches.

San Lorenzo and Independiente could aspire to compete, but the situation forces them to add points so as not to look with fear at the table of averages. Eduardo Domínguez is on high alert for lack of reinforcements and it is also possible that he will not be able to complete the bench on his debut against Ciclón in the Nuovo Gasometro. A similar scenario is the one presented to Rubén Darío Insua, who dreamed of having at least a couple of incorporations for the start.

It is known: the First Division tournament will be played in a single round, all against all, due to the high number of participants and the lack of dates to play the two traditional rounds. There will be 27 dates in just 143 days. Seven days less than last year’s League, which was 25. And what’s scary: it will have 2 relegations.

The Professional League starts with the usual doubts and problems. Outsiders, in Bilbao, Messi and company drink mates and give smiles.