By Joe Behan
Tournament hosts Argentina danced on all opposition in the 2001 World Youth Cup. The attacking Argentineans beat Ghana 3-0 last week in the final at Velez Sarsfield Stadium, with more than 40,000 fans going crazy.
The supporters began celebrations at the sixth minute when Argentina’s Diego Colotto volleyed home on a set piece. The Africans were not allowed to find any kind of rhythm in their attack as Argentina’s Javier Saviola and Andres D’Alessandro were far too dangerous to ignore.
Indeed, the potent Ghana attack that had disposed of Brazil earlier in the competition was canceled out in the 14th minute by Saviola, otherwise known as the Rabbit. The nickname stems from his prominent teeth, something like another young lad named Ronaldo. Let’s hope Saviola has better luck with avoiding both injuries and the pressures of the game.
The Ghana tactics in playing the offside trap told the tale that the Africans knew they were up against it. Failing to step out in sync, the Ghanaian defense allowed Argentina’s Maximiliano Rodriguez to cross the ball to the one and only Saviola, waiting all alone in the box. The cunning Rabbit nodded Argentina’s second and his 11th of the tournament, the most goals in Youth Cup history.
Within 15 minutes the final looked like it was over, with the crowd cheering every step the hosts made. Argentina looked set to maintain their 3-goal-a-game average in the competition, while Ghana just could not find any momentum at all to get on the score sheet.
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In the 73rd minute, Ghana were caught flatfooted again when D’Alessandro chipped over the now depleted defense and Rodriguez made no mistake with a thunderous effort into the back of the net.
Ghana can be proud of reaching the finals of the championship, but it was all too evident that their confidence was shattered when in the 89th minute, Abdul Ibrahim missed a penalty.
What devastated Ghana more so than the penalty miss was the manner in which D’Alessandro danced all over them. His trickery and sublime skill had Ghana falling all over the field. While all the attention is on Saviola to be the next "Maradona," D’Alessandro would be a better comparison. The gifted playmaker learns his trade at the River Plate youth program, where emphasis is on enhancing flare and imagination.
It is worth keeping an eye on D’Alessandro, while Saviola was without a doubt the player of the tournament. His goal in the final not only got his teammates dancing, the stadium joined in the party and it probably has not stopped — the dancing, that is.
Barcelona catch the Rabbit
This is the third youth title in the last four competitions for Argentina. The expectations for Saviola to do the business was absolutely enormous, and probably a little outrageous. But soccer in Argentina is like a religion. The Rabbit has come up trumps, big time, and Barcelona has obviously made the right moves over the last year to buy the now national hero. The 19-year-old, priced at £15 million, is a far cry from Real Madrid paying £45.8 million for Zinedine Zidane, but Saviola could prove to be the best buy this decade, keeping inflation in mind.
According to Saviola’s agent, Alfredo Cabrera, Saviola is now a Barcelona player. The Spanish giants are now said to be offering £17.9 million for the young striker and Barcelona directors want him for five years. Saviola is delighted with the proposed deal, as he believes moving to Spain will help get better treatment for his father’s illness. Agent Cabrera expressed that Saviola was grateful for the opportunity Barcelona’s president, Joan Gaspart, gave him.
The spotlight is certainly on the Rabbit after he hit a hat trick against European Youth champions France, beating them 3-1 to reach the semis. He then went on to hit a brace in Argentina’s 5-nil win over Paraguay. With one game left, the final, Saviola had to score to break the record — and what a game to do it in. There is an incredible buzz around Barcelona since Saviola has been announced as Catalan bound. French defender Philippe Christanval and Brazilian midfielders Fabio Rochemback and Geovanni will join forces with the Rabbit for Champions League honors. With Argentine goalkeeper Roberto Banano on his way to Barcelona also, he will be a tremendous help to Saviola settling down in Nou Camp.
Protect the gifted
Javier Saviola is now the top property in South American soccer, and after much debating and rejection in the anticipated move to La Liga, let’s hope it stops one way or another. We have seen the game ruin many a young star with hype and sensationalism. That list of downfalls is endless and still many critics have no sympathy for the famed ones. Remarks that these superstars had it all and have only themselves to blame for their failures is easy to say. We already know that Saviola wrote an open letter to club directors and even the media, asking them to accept Barcelona’s offer. It’s incredible that the 19-year-old pleaded for the transfer so his father could receive better medical treatment in Spain. Bottom line, money calls the shots here. It is essential that the sport, soccer, must not let business take over the game, and indeed the lives of its players.
Michel Platini, one of FIFA’s better spokesmen, addressed recently that we must not forget the most important element in the sport is what happens on the field. That the game, he said, is where it is at. Soccer, he continued, has become a business. Zidane echoed his fellow Frenchman when he said that price tags on players was ridiculous. Even his own price, Zidane expressed in so many words, was way off target.
There is much concern for the future generation of gifted players. They are being manipulated and much corruption has crept into the game due to the global growth of soccer. Besides the passport episodes in the professional game, at the World Youth Championship there was major concern over just how old players were. Players looked a lot older than 20. FIFA have admitted age control is a headache and it is difficult to control overage players participating. There are all kinds of ugly lengths that authorities will go to achieve their goals, even at the expense of a player’s well-being.
Yes, it all comes down to business, which stems from a win-at-all-costs attitude. Let’s hope it does not come down to winning at the cost of ruining Saviola’s career.