“It’s harder to win when you don’t buy the refs.” — Klein

I would love to explain how much it meant to me just to see the Argentine national team play. I would love to say it was a thrill to see so many wearing the Albiceleste with pride and honor. I would love to write how seeing both of my countries fight an intense exhibition match to a draw is symbolic of my national identity.

But, really, I’m just pissed.

In a game many predicted to be a blowout (including myself), played on a weekend that saw another heavy favorite lose, Argentina and the U.S. played to a draw in the swamps of New Jersey. The “friendly” match, which drew nearly 80,000 fans of both countries, showcased a lot of talent with no scoring.

Klein, myself, Blue

Under the heavy rain and amid the often unbearable heat, Blue and I watched number-one-ranked Argentina fail to tally even a single goal against the U.S. yet thrilling fans at the Meadowlands with an impressive level of soccer.

Seeing my forlorn face after the game, Blue asked me, “You’re saying that if the U.S. had won [and they could have], there wouldn’t be a small part of you that would have been happy?”

“Not even a little bit,” I replied.

I walked into section 113 of the Meadowlands and was overcome with national pride as I saw waves of blue and white. It was incredible seeing so many Argentine fans. They wore Maradona shirts, home and road jerseys, flags draped like capes. They painted their faces and brought their babies. They scuffled in the stands and ran onto the field at halftime. They cheered, clapped, and proudly sang our national anthem.

The American side was equally impressive as a sea of red unfurled a giant U.S. Soccer flag. U.S. fans were just as vociferous in their support as the Argentine fans and followed the game as closely and wisely as I expected.

The match itself can best be described by others. I am still in too much shock from the outcome to produce a cohesive game summary. I will say that the U.S. side impressed me. Though Argentina outplayed the Americans in the first half and created ample scoring opportunities, their game deteriorated as the U.S. subbed in fresher players in the second half. Goalkeeper Tim Howard played out of his mind, stopping countless Argentine shots on goal. The reffing was atrocious (despite my friend Klein’s assertion in the title of this blog post), Argentina can’t play in the rain, and the U.S. needs to figure out a way to speed up its attack.

I will leave the best analysis I have read about Argentina to “Dan”, whose profound comment on Goal.com was inspiring:

once again this proves argentina is the most over rated team in the world. how is a team who has not one trophy in over 20 YEARS consdiered the best team in the world? Greece has accomplished more then the argintines have. they are south americas england, good line-up but terrible as a team. OVERRATED”

Thanks, Dan, for your incisive wisdom.

More photos:

Two Argentines who were really into the game.

A dad with his two kids. They were so happy walking into the stands I had to capture it.

Maradona shirt signed by Diego himself.

Landon Donovan bitches again about something or other.