Still hurting...

It still hurts.

Less, but still.

I am proud.

Mas, y todavia.

I wore my scarf today again.

But the feeling of sadness lingers.

Sad for our people.

Sad for our futbol.

And sad for the players that gave everything, on behalf of us all.

We have to go on, with hopes and dreams, un-fulfilled.

Without the ultimate reward that our futbol deserves.

We finished second, only on the scoreboard.

I know, we were not second best.

But, we must congratulate an also deserving Germany.

Our time will come again.

As life is a journey, and not a destination.

Futbol is also a journey, a feeling.

I thank the players, for both the journey and the feeling they have given me,  for both Argentina and for our futbol.

Vamos Argentina!!! Todavia, y siempre!

We're not a team..

This was meant to be a tactical piece.

But my heart won't let my brain think enough to get into the fine details of how we could tactically beat the supposed perfect Germans.

The Brazilians, fell apart emotionally and tactically, due to the loss of their two most key players.

And yes, had it not been the Germans, it would not have been 7-1, but this does not make them invincible. 

In a league season, you don't get 4 points for winning 3-0.

You get just as many points as 1-0.

And in a World Cup, you don't get the trophy for winning the semi-final emphatically. 

Supposedly it is the Team vs the Individual. 

Supposedly we are ineffective, and unconvincing. 

But yet the Germans could not beat Ghana, and could not overcome Algeria in 90 minutes.

How will we win?..

We have big balls.

We feel futbol.

And we have Lionel. 

They are correct, we're not a team.

Somos mas.

Somos un pais! 

Somos Argentina!

VAMOS CARAJO!!!

This, is the tears in my eyes for this team...

This photo is it. 

This is why I love this Argentina Team. 

This is why this team has reached the final, when others haven't. 

I loved the Argentina World Cup sides of the past, I did. I do. Still. 

I have spent many hours bewildered at how 2006 crashed so fast in 12 minutes. 

I spent days wondering how the most talented squad of 2002, failed to get through the group stage. 

But this picture says it for me. 

Rojo lays spent. Completely spent. 

Saturated of energy. 

Anguish and pain on his face. 

But most of all, the jersey. 

The shirt, is also spent. 

The shirt that represents all Argentines has been to a war. 

It has been in a war and it has fought. 

The man wearing the jersey, has done it justice for all us Argentines.

We haven't played the beautiful mesmerising futbol of 06.

We haven't got Zanetti, Batigol, or Riquelme, signature players of the La Seleccion and a squad of 2002 that was embarrassingly rich. 

We have Rojo, Biglia, and Masche. 

But they have fought for the jersey.

They have fought for our people. 

They have fought for our futbol. 

They have to go fight again one more time. 

But this time, the tears will be in my eyes from the first moment, because the jersey is back, back where it belongs. 

3 hours from glory...

4 heavyweights.

180 minutes from glory.

With so many stars and match winners across the four squads, there is high potential for someone to deliver something special.

Someone to rise to the occasion. Or merely to do what they do, on a greater occasion.

Something that will be remembered for the ages.

It's no secret, I hope it is Lionel.

But it could easily be Robben, Oscar, or Goetze.

Argentina - Holanda

It's ironic that I have been tagged in Dennis Bergkamp's goal that knocked us out in 98' about three times this month.

That one hurt.

I've always thought that when we win, I'd like us to beat the best. All of them.

I didn't want to get Costa Rica in the semi-final, because then it'd be too easy at the end of the Cup to say 'oh but you had an easy ride'.

Even a Brazil without Neymar, would have been somewhat not quite the best. So I'm happy with the path to glory.

Two demons to exercise.

Germany and The Netherlands.

To beat the old foe of Germany in the final, who have knocked us out in both our last World Cups and who also had some refereeing help in Italia 90 to win it against us, would be a just way to take it out. 

We need two of the greatest matches since 86' from 'Los Pibes'.

Le'Oranje. A huge task. Many tactical battles.

Lous Van Gaal vs Messi.

Sabella vs Louis Van Gaal

The Argentine midfield and defense vs RVP, Sneijder and Robben.

The last three guys there are giving me a headache just saying their names. I'm not sure we can keep them scoreless. It seriously pains me as I say it.

Rojo has been very good, but in particular Wesley turning around Biglia and Masche. These boys will have to have an even bigger game again.

RVP. He barely needs half a chance. Think his diving header, think his turn and finish against Australia. He makes half chances look like tap ins. 

Headache is now a migraine. 

And then I think of no Di Maria going forward for us. His run from Messi's passes give oxygen to the team when under pressure. 

We have to find oxygen elsewhere. Lavezzi! Maybe? Por favor! Te pido!

Pero Somos Argentino..

If it is our year, it feels right that it has to be this way. 

We have suffered 24 years since Italia.

And suffer we have, in some of the worst ways.

And now our hearts have suffered in this World Cup. 

Nothing has come easy and nothing will come easy in the next 180 minutes. 

I am ready, I want to suffer my part a little bit more. 

I believe in Lionel. I believe in Masche. 

I believe in our futbol.

Vamos por todo Argentina!!!

Words cannot describe...

As an Argentinian, I think, well that's what you get for supporting Switzerland so passionately.

And also for the first 7 minutes against Belgium, you were quite happy to start the 'Ole's' when they strung together 3 passes.

Where was all that support and passion tonight?.. Mmm. More on that later.

However, as a football fan... What on earth!

We can analyse the tactics, which Germany had spot on. They made the most of the Brazilians ill discipline in defense to track runners, in particular to the edge of the box. 

But the real damage, was that it tore apart any little bit of self belief they still had after the Neymar and Thiago loss.

Beyond the 2nd or the 3rd goal, there was just no belief. With no belief, there is no tracking, tracking back, no fight, just complete ill discipline like a training match where the score doesn't matter.

And to think I said the Germans were not looking ruthless earlier on. Wow. No heart, they just slay without any remorse. 

It was cruel.

What I think is disappointing is some of the fans response. The boo's are unwarranted. There will always be a few, but I just feel for the scapegoats like Fred. Or any of the players.

They don't go out to lose 7-1. They provided the nation with joy up to here, and the people were with them up to here.

So they shouldn't desert them at this point.

It is hard though. I've been there.

Cape Town, 2010. Argentina 0, Germany 4.

You just feel hurt. It takes time to heel.

You have to somehow stick together with your team. Support them through it.

Because fútbol is beautiful, it comes around again.

Some day in the future, unknowing to us all, you have that chance again.

My Argentina, is a step away from that day.

VAMOS CARAJO!!!

Rise to the occasion

4 heavyweights.

180 minutes from glory.

With so many stars and match winners across the four squads, there is high potential for someone to deliver something special.

Someone to rise to the occasion. Or merely to do what they do, on a greater occasion.

Something that will be remembered for the ages.

It's no secret, I hope it is Lionel.

But it could easily be Robben, Oscar, or Goetze.

Brazil

It's funny seeing so many rate this as the worst Brazil side ever. It clearly isn't. The squad is tremendously talented.

And I'm not sure what they were expecting from Scolari either. He has always been defensive and rigid in forming his sides.

And despite the loss of Neymar, they can bring in Willian, and still have Bernard as a sub for impact, who dazzled at last years Confederations Cup.

No doubt in my mind, 94' Brazil was the worst Brazilian side I have ever seen. Insanely boring. Yet look what they did. Do not write this one off just yet.

Germany

The 2002 World Cup Final triggered a rethink for German football.

Despite making the final, they knew their football looked, and was, outdated.

Changes were introduced at Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 level. All regarding youth training standards, approaches, and style.

They weren't aiming to change the direction of the National Team, but they knew they needed to improve, be more refined, have more football in their side.

Fast forward to today. Germany look to be the favourites, against Brazil in their homeland.

They look to have more football in their side.

I fully expect them to dictate the match. I think they will want to, and I also think Scolari will want them to.

That is Brazil's chance. With such a high defensive line, Hulk and Willian will be looking to run onto an Oscar pass. Algeria showed the way, but lacked the quality.

Can Brazils' defence hold strong, without Thiago Silva, for long enough to allow them to take the lead down the other end.

These semi-finals are too tight to predict. I'd advise to just enjoy it.

I'll enjoy tonights, because I fully expect to suffer through the next.

Quartets - Part 2, David and Goliath

Historically the final rarely ends up as the show piece.

Often, it is a match from the semi or quarter finals that is burnt in our memory and is looked back on as the match the eventual champions rose to the occasion of the World Cup.

Think 86', Argentina vs England, or more recently 06' Italy vs Germany.

In the quartet of matches that approaches us, there is a classic match awaiting.

Part 2

David and Goliath

Today, everyone's little David, has fallen. There are just two David's left.

One of them is Belgica, a return to the great stage. 

They look to have been building, without nearly hitting their straps.

My Argentina, Goliath, using every once of energy to scrape through, despite promising so much more.

Something is not right for us. 

It worries me, because I have huge hope and belief after Di Maria's goal.

It touched the soul of all Argentines. 

However, this is usually where it has falls apart.

This match will be won from the technical area. 

Alejandro has work, Marc has something up his sleeve.

I hope not. 

We look to history, a Goliath number 10, and pray 'Que se repita!'

Is there any magic dust left for Costa Rica?

It looks to have run out.

And if not, it will need to be in it's most potent form. 

LVG awaits. The, Master Technician of the moment.

He seems too ruthless to be born Dutch.

He does not care for ideas, or emotion. He only cares for the victory. 

Can Los Ticos play the game of their lives, with all their heart, to produce one more miracle?

Or will they finally fall, to a Robben fall?