DOHA — For Argentina, this World Cup was always going to be about one man.
But there is more to Argentina’s attack than Lionel Messi, as their veteran superstar goes into Friday night’s quarter-final clash with the Netherlands one step closer to immortality and finally being able to be held in the same regard as Diego Maradona in his homeland.
If anyone other than Messi was going to fire Argentina to a third World Cup in Doha, Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez, given his unrelenting form in Serie A, surely was going to be the one, but having started the first two group games and having had a host of chances off the bench in the following two matches, he remains frustrating – much like his strike predecessor Gonzalo Higuain – when he dons the Albiceleste colours.
Instead, alongside Messi – who finally broke his knockout-stage duck at the ripe old age of 35, in his 1,000th career match against Australia – the goals have come via the boot of a man fast becoming a fan favourite among the thousands of fervent Argentines here in Qatar.
Julian Alvarez is just one in a long line of diamonds unearthed by Pep Guardiola and his transfer hierarchy at Manchester City. While Erling Haaland has stolen the headlines since their summer arrivals, Alvarez and his family have quietly assimilated to life in Manchester, so much so his two brothers, Rafael and Agustin, are playing for local team Abbey Hey – a 10th tier side, who take very few prisoners.
His early season form for his new club would have left Alvarez feeling unfortunate to have been left out of Argentina’s first two group matches.
Since filling Martinez’s shoes, however, Alvarez has more than capitalised, much as he has done at every opportunity presented to him at City.
The 22-year-old has scored in each of his two World Cup starts – only three Argentina players have scored in their first three; Guillermo Stabile in 1930, Oreste Corbatta in 1958 and Hernán Crespo in 2006.
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“As a player, he’s very technical, very difficult to mark, even in training,” City team-mate and Netherlands defender Nathan Aké said of Alvarez this week. “He’s very sharp, a good finisher. So it will be tough to face him.
“He’s a great player, but also a great guy off the pitch. He’s a little bit quiet, obviously still learning English and stuff when it comes to the new environment. So it’s all new for him. But he has fitted in really well.”
Alvarez looks right at home as Argentina’s No 9, too. Which is handy when his side are up against one of the best tacticians in the world for a place in the World Cup last four.
Louis van Gaal has arguably been the star of the tournament. His general enthusiasm – incredible given he is suffering from prostate cancer and is the second oldest coach to manage a team at a World Cup – has been infectious in Qatar, a country he has not been afraid to speak out about.
But, like Messi, Van Gaal is ultra-determined to claim the one prize that would complete his collection. The zany one liners are just an added bonus.
“[Angel] Di Maria is calling me the worst manager he has ever had? He’s one of the few players with this opinion,” Van Gaal said. “I’m really sorry about this and find it sad he said this. Memphis [Depay] had to deal with it too at Manchester, and now we kiss each other on the mouth.
“I’m not going to reveal my tactics to you. That would be pretty stupid. What I think of Messi? It is not too difficult to come up with an answer. I do not think there needs to be too much hoo-ha over this. My players are professional enough to deal with this.”
Argentina-Netherlands matches are steeped in history. There was Johan Cruyff’s side introducing the world to Total Football in 1974, Mario Kempes controversially winning Argentina’s first World Cup in 1978, Dennis Bergkamp’s wonder goal in 1998 and Argentina’s shoot-out win over the Dutch in the 2014 semi-final, breaking Van Gaal’s heart during his second stint in charge.
Such a tense fixture could very well be decided in one moment. Messi, surrounded by three or four bodies every time, may simply not have space to conjure one. Someone else must step up. Alvarez, having learned quickly what it takes to be the very best, can be that man.
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