Two quick thoughts on Argentina’s demolition of Serbia and Montenegro. First, short passing, especially when it is of this quality, would have been in order to dribbling. Maybe, because one values the team ethic more than individual wizardry. But the exchanges in the final third, especially for Cambiasso’s goal (already being labeled as the best World Cup goal ever!) were a pleasure to watch, even on a TV screen several metres away and with the sound turned off.The second thought, which should be analysed at length, is whether they have peaked too early. There is a school of thought, based on statistics, that teams making a slower start to the tournament have a greater chance of winning it. Yet, it is only a couple of matches more that Argentina have to play at this level of quality; if and when they do reach the semi-finals, that momentum and adrenaline rush should compensate for any loss of form.It’s early days yet, and one can’t judge Brazil on the result of one match, but Argentina look a good bet to go all the way. Speaking of Brazil, the latest rumour is that Ronaldo was taken to a clinic for a recurrence of the “mystery ailment” he suffered before the 1998 World Cup final. It’s still a rumour, of course, but it is clear that the star striker is not his normal self. However, his problem is most likely physical, not mental weight. It’s his strike partner Adriano who has been going through tremendous personal problems, largely centering on his marriage, and his extra-marital solutions.One last thought for those of you who remember the great Romanian team of the 1990s: Hagi, Lacatus, etc. They captured the imagination with their inventive play, great work on the wings and the peerless Hagi, the “Maradona of the Carpathians”.One doesn’t hear of Romania any more and this afternoon, sitting next to some Romanian journalists on the bus here, this reporter learnt that it was a generational thing. Those greats had retired and the ones who succeeded them just weren’t as good. They have a couple of good players, like Mutu and Chivu, but not enough to make a team. And none, apparently, on the way.
