Between Arrogance and Pride: Argentines Defy Their Team's Critics

The Argentine national team received a massive welcome

Argentine fans, despite their disappointment after the World Cup final and their emotional gratitude to Lionel Messi who is close to international retirement, showed much indifference, even defiance, in the face of criticism directed at their team's behavior, and spoke of 'pride' when they heard accusations of 'arrogance'. The 'Albiceleste's' participation in the World Cup held in North America, as well as after their defeat against Spain, was accompanied by a stream of hostile comments in the global press and on social media.

The Argentine team is accused of being 'negative', 'stingy', 'destructive', and of having 'sarcastic', 'provocative', even violent behavior. The London 'Telegraph' headlined 'Football 1, Thugs 0', while the 'New York Times' considered that 'Argentina harmed its reputation, as well as the image of the final...'.

For its part, the British 'Sun' newspaper opined that Argentina 'paid the price for its desire to turn a football match into a street brawl'. But Argentines describe their players as 'stubborn, rough, and tough', and see these qualities as virtues in their team, feeling proud and moved by its resilience and the 'remontada' (comeback) it achieved against Egypt after trailing by two goals to win 3-2, and against Switzerland who scored an equalizer before losing (3-1 after extra time).

The biggest comeback, however, was against 'hated' England, from trailing by a goal until the 85th minute to a 2-1 victory in stoppage time. Despite being aware of foreign animosity towards their team, fans cope with this situation comfortably. Marga Ledesma, a 36-year-old housewife, told AFP, 'They criticize us because we know the meaning of suffering, getting up, falling again, and continuing life like this, because certainly being Argentine is connected to blood, heart, and love.'

No gifts from anyone. She continued, 'The Argentine is a fighter by nature, no one gives us anything, ever, and those who criticize us do not know how to sweat for the shirt like these players did.' In recent days, the country's media and social networks have been ablaze defending the team's 'Argentineness'. Well-known broadcaster Pedro Rosemblatt wrote on Instagram, 'There is a certain condescension towards us that Argentines cannot stand,' adding, 'Our rebellion angers them and confronts them with their cowardice. They treat us as liars, cheats, and dirty. And we love that.'

Mateus Baldo, an Argentine sports journalist, responded to a recent opinion piece published in the 'New York Times' before the final that described the Argentine team as the 'villain of the World Cup', saying, 'The powerful celebrate you as long as you accept the place they want for you. It's not Argentina that bothers them, but its insubordination.' Luis Schiumerini, a political science researcher and Argentine living in the United States, acknowledged in an opinion piece in 'La Nacion' that 'the judicial record is not clean', referring, for example, to racist chants made by some Argentine players in the past which 'cannot be justified'. He added, 'There is racism in Argentine society and it is part of its football culture.' But he continued, 'There is also racism in all the countries participating in this World Cup, including those whose citizens have spent a month commenting on and scrutinizing Argentina meticulously.'

Who is racist?

Sociologist Ivan Shulaker told AFP that these accusations 'often come from colonial countries that have not fully resolved the issue of racism'. He added, 'Accusing Argentina of racism is a reproduction of this colonialism, because they see others only from their own perspective.' Sports journalist and writer Ezequiel Fernández Moores believes that some criticisms directed at Argentina's stance are valid, telling AFP, 'Sometimes, we think we are the center of the world.'

But Moores does not rule out the idea that 'a little jealousy' is behind the attacks on the Argentine team. He continued, 'Argentina may be a third-world country in many areas, but in football it belongs to the world's elite. And like any great power, people want to see it lose.' Leo Simoni, a 59-year-old lawyer and fan of the Argentine team, offered his simple analysis: 'Argentina is a team that hurts others, like most South American football teams.' He added, 'This is football: if you don't like being touched, play volleyball.' Argentine midfielder Rodrigo De Paul wrote on Instagram, 'We realized how many people hoped for Argentina to fall.' He added, 'Our smiles bother them, and our methods anger them.' But for him, that only 'strengthened the passion and love for our shirt' for Argentines.