Miraculously after a disappointing start to the competition, Argentina is in the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in its history. She is preparing for a huge challenge against New Zealand.
For the third time in its history, Argentina is only one match away from playing its first World Cup final, Friday October 20, by challenging New Zealand in the semi-final (9 p.m.). Semi-finalist status once again a surprise for the Pumas.
In Argentina with an overwhelming Catholic majority (92%), the scene already takes on a mystical dimension. By propelling Louis Rees-Zammit into touch in the final minutes of the quarter-final against Wales (29-17) on Saturday in Marseille, Matias Moroni achieved much more than a tackle. The center has revived this orgullo argentino among wild supporters but until now frustrated by the pale content of this World Cup. Five weeks after having sinned against the English (10-27), the Vélodrome has become a land of redemption for the Pumas. Some even compare this action to the saving save of goalkeeper “Dibu” Martinez in front of Randal Kolo Muani, in the World Cup final.
“Rugby is not unfair, it gave us a new chance in Marseille”, illustrated fullback Juan Cruz Mallia shortly after. Here are the Argentines back on the right path, that of a third semi-final in their history (after 2007 and 2015), still burdened with an obstacle that is difficult to overcome. Coming out of a titanic match against Ireland (28-24), New Zealand looks like a juggernaut whose rise in power is diminishing Argentina’s chances. Even if coach Michael Cheika insists on his fear of stopping in the semi-finals, the reality is undoubtedly more nuanced.
“¡Go to Paris!“
The rallying cry “¡Go to Paris!” has in fact been heard more than once in the aisles of the Vélodrome, as if it were a finality. Understand, Argentina has finally earned the right to perform at the Stade de France, and the rest doesn’t matter. Until then, the Pumas have navigated between Marseille, Saint-Etienne and Nantes, and this tour of the legendary venues of French football has long seemed painful. It started with a rugby mush against an England in dire straits before the game and reduced to 14 from the start. Morose, dominated on impact and unable to hold the ball for several periods of play, the Argentines seemed at the bottom of the hole. They methodically extricated themselves from it, so as to “re-brand”according to third row Facundo Isa.
“There has been no radical change, we just learn lessons after each match”, agreed Michael Cheika on Saturday. It was barely more reassuring against the even messier Samoans (19-10 on September 22), logically better against the overly fair Chileans (59-5 on September 30), imperfect but captivating against Japan (39-27 on October 8). ) then very consistent against Wales. “My players learned a lot from previous matches, we knew that everything could change in a match”continued Michael Cheika.
His team has continually portrayed the post-England matches as “finals” and, in fact, this configuration of cleaver matches suits this Argentina better. More concerned with the result than with the aesthetic, it does not always shine but has winning assets until now. “We know it’s not perfect, but nothing is perfect in lifephilosopher hooker and captain Julian Montoya. What matters is the way […] which we fight for each other.”
Fallen in the right part of the table
And in these upwind phases, the progress is notable. Since the 13 penalties conceded against the English, the counter has been falling continuously and has reached its cruising level, with seven fouls in the last two matches. Only one of their last 48 throws into touch did not find a taker, and the worst scrum of the eight quarter-finalists (80% in pools) was never defeated by the usually tough Welsh in the sector.
The Argentines’ place among the four best nations in this World Cup is partly due to the chance of the draw. Placed in the “good” half of the table, they did not meet any of the four behemoths (Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, France) before the semi-finals. In any case, this reflects neither the World Rugby ranking, where Argentina is eighth nor the downward slope of recent years, marked by the disappearance of the Jaguares franchise in Super Rugby or the two victories in ten matches before the World Cup. .
The Pumas prefer to invoke a barely older memory, since elimination in the first round in 2019 did not prevent them from beating the All Blacks twice, in 2020 (25-15) and in 2022 (25-18). New Zealanders have certainly changed a lot – and dealt two slaps, 53-3 and 41-12 to the Argentines – in the meantime, but the latter erased, with these exploits, their complexes against the men in black, never beaten in 29 previous confrontations. Above all, they will have this blue and white tide to raise the decibels around Saint-Denis.
“It felt like we were in a football stadium, it was huge”, noted Welsh winger Josh Adams after the quarter in Marseille. With a Stade de France revisited in Bombonera, the Pumas can cling to their tiny hope.