The last time Argentina were humiliated 0-4 in a World Cup quarterfinal the dark skies sundered and rain fell with the force of a monsoon. That game took place 36 years ago in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany and left observers reeling with admiration for the Dutch victors, led by Johan Cruyff, playing “total football.”
In Cape Town last weekend the Albiceleste were humiliated 0-4 once more, albeit without rain, by another swift-moving team playing soccer from the future. Only this time the defeat was inflicted by brilliant, free-spirited Germans...
The current tournament is making the Dutch both happy and troubled. They are euphoric that Oranje is winning, but uncomfortable about the “ugly” fotball and loss of attacking elan. Meanwhile, seeing the once-hated Germans is getting Dutch fans even more confused. They look in the mirror and see the face of the old enemy. They see the beautiful, creative, new multi-ethnic Germans and realize, with a flush of potentially healing recognition, that they remind them of the best of themselves.
World Cups are always best understood as epic psychodramas involving entire nations. Yet this sort of symmetrical Jungian mirroring is rare.
Holland coach Bert van Marwijk admits he is very concerned about the hamstring injury picked up by Arjen Robben in today's World Cup warm-up victory over Hungary.Robben injured? It's a bit man-bites-dog. But it is a shame because he's always so much fun to watch.
Robben came on as a half-time substitute in the 6-1 rout at the Amsterdam ArenA and scored two goals before being forced off with the injury five minutes from time.
