Argentina has not won the football World Cup since 1986, but is one of the favorites to lift the trophy in Qatar. With one game left in the group stage, they are in danger of being knocked out of the World Cup if the games on Wednesday do not go Argentina’s way. If they are to succeed in progressing, the offensive stars must shine. As usual, the main focus is on Lionel Messi, who probably now has the last chance to win a World Cup during his career, but for Angel Di Maria, a World Cup final will probably feel at least as special. Got a letter before the World Cup final The last time Argentina played in the World Cup final, in 2014, it was instead the biggest setback in the career of the offensive magician. Di Maria had that time, in the quarter-final against Belgium, left the field with an injury. Argentina, without an injured Di Maria, beat the Netherlands in the semi-final – and suddenly there was a strong battle against the clock to reach the final for the Argentine superstar. Angel Di Maria is sticking to his head in the World Cup quarter-final against Belgium, probably knowing that the injury he suffered in that match was so serious that he would not get any more playing time in the championship. Photo: EVARISTO SA / Afp In several interviews later, and in an article for The Players Tribune, the 34-year-old told about the drama that took place behind the scenes. He still remembers that he was putting some ice on his leg when Daniel Martínez, the team doctor for Argentina, entered the room. The doctor held an envelope and said that a letter had arrived from Real Madrid, the team Di Maria played for at the time. – He said: “They think you are not fit to play the World Cup final. So they force us not to use you”. – Everyone had heard the rumor Di Maria said that he immediately drew his own conclusions about what was about to happen. – Everyone had heard the rumor that Real wanted to sign James Rodriguez after the World Cup, and I knew they were going to sell me to make room for him. So they didn’t want their property to be damaged. It was that simple. This is the business side of football that people don’t always see. I asked Daniel to give me the letter. I didn’t even open it. I just tore it healthy, he says. He still remembers the feeling from 2014 when he begged Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella to play the final despite the injury. – I was at around 90 per cent. The leg wasn’t quite good, but I wanted to play the final and I didn’t care at all if I never played football again. It was one of the things I was told could happen, but for me it was the WC final, it was my final. – I went to talk to Alejandro and told him crying that I wasn’t 100 percent. I knew he loved me and that he wanted me to play, but he did what was best for the team. I was going to have an injection and wanted to try, but after that meeting he decided to use Enzo Perez instead, recalls Di Maria. Di Maria therefore did not reach the World Cup final in 2014, and had to watch the entire match from the bench as an unused reserve when Argentina lost against Germany. And he was right in his predictions. A little over a month after the World Cup final, he was sold to Manchester United. Angel Di Maria with the suitcase, ready for Qatar. Photo: Skjermdump / Instagram “With the same dream as always” Di Maria, who was uncertain about the World Cup for a long time due to injury, was the great hero when Argentina last year ended the nation’s 28-year trophy drought and won the Copa America for the first time since 1993 after a 1–0 win against Brazil. He scored the goal and was voted best on the pitch in that match. In Qatar, he gets another chance to lift the WC trophy. When he joined the Argentina squad that got on the plane to the World Cup country, he posted two sentences on Instagram: “With the same dream as always. Come on, Argentina!”. The 34-year-old, who during his career has played 125 international matches and scored 25 goals for Argentina, has started both matches for the blue and whites in Qatar so far and recorded one goal-scoring pass. Argentinian Juan Arango is a commentator and correspondent for Diario Sport, and sits on The Guardian’s panel which annually names the 100 best players in the world. He believes Di Maria, no matter what happens in the World Cup, will be one of the greatest players in the country of all time. – 125 international matches is a high number, but what is a bigger number for him is 2. If you look back at the last 15 years, Ángel Di María has scored two of the most important goals for Argentina, says Arango to news. – His status is secure Arango refers to the match-winning score against Nigeria in the 2008 Olympics and the match-winning score against Brazil in the Copa America final last year. Both games still 1–0 with Di Maria as the only goalscorer. – Because of this, his status is secure. He is one of the most dynamic players to have ever represented Argentina, and his injuries in important matches dampened his career for a while, but that match against Brazil last year changed a lot. Now he will try to end it in an adventurous way by winning the WC, believes Arango. Angel Di Maria is one of the best players in the history of Argentina. Photo: Matt Dunham / AP He gets support from Gasti Hirsch, an Argentinian football reporter who, among other things, works for ESPN and has a Twitter account that is followed by over 200,000. – He enjoyed this wink because the fans had long questioned him. Many said that Di Maria does not perform in important matches and that he was also injured all the time. But now, in addition to being behind the match winner in the Copa America, he has been a benchmark for the rest of the team and is loved by the Argentinians, says Hirch to news. Hirch believes a WC title will lift Di Maria’s status to new heights. – He is not the biggest idol now, but with a World Cup triumph he will gain eternal respect, Hirch asserts. Which country wins the World Cup? Brazil France Argentina England Spain Germany Netherlands Belgium Portugal Denmark Another country Show result
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Di Maria understood what was in the letter he received before the World Cup final – tear it down soundly – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
