The first conclusion left by this furious start to the
League Cup
, with 84 games in 27 days, is how complicated and unpredictable Argentine football is, with a greater number of away wins than local ones, few goals and several surprises.
The second is visual:
the pathetic state of some playing fields
, with burnt grass, mud, wells and sand, making it difficult for the players to act and putting their physical health at risk.
Entrecasa football in the world champion country is going through a crisis that is logically linked to
economic variants
.
And the bleeding of figures abroad is an evil that leaders, coaches and fans are already getting used to dealing with.
To name an example, the best goalkeeper of 2023, Augusto Batalla, from San Lorenzo, left Ciclón classified for the Libertadores and went to fight relegation with Granada of Spain.
The truth is never sad, and it seems that he has no remedy.
But if the musicians are missing, the
AFA
, through the Professional League,
must keep its eye on the score
.
In these first two dates that are being played, the fields were horrible.
He saw himself on a World Cup stage like that of the champion
Rosario Central
and that of the "new millionaire"
Racing Club
, but also in an institution and a model stadium like that of
Vélez
.
There are more cases.
"Today the field did not lend itself to playing our football, it is not an excuse (sic)," said
Juanfer Quintero
after the 0-1 against Unión in the Cilindro, the night in which the Academy debuted all its reinforcements with Gustavo Costas at the head of the team but crashed into the Tatengue and the hard grass in the areas.
The string of four
La Renga
recitals left about 120 thousand dollars for the Avellaneda club, according to reports, money that is scheduled to be invested in works for the stadium, a constant claim from the members of the club chaired by Víctor Blanco.
The case of
Central
was different , which in its first home game since the consecration in the final of the 2023 League Cup, saw its game affected due to the playing field.
To say that the grass was in poor condition sounds like an understatement
.
Miguel Ángel Russo's team received Banfield in a true pasture, worthy of the lowest categories of regional tournaments.
The best image of the 0-0 between Canalla and Taladro was given by
Nacho Malcorra
, the number 10 who takes free kicks like Messi but who collided with a piece of ground and sent the ball anywhere.
The explanation, in this case, has to do with a delay in the renovation works of the Gigante de Arroyito.
No, it is not a regional tournament, nor a promotion match.
It is the Rosario Central court, in their match against Banfield.
The state of the playing field is terrible.
😳❌ pic.twitter.com/OawdAgOUP8
— Bolavip Argentina (@BolavipAr) January 30, 2024
With the expectation of playing the Libertadores and the possible return of
Ángel Di María
, the Rosario team has been working since November on expanding the capacity of its stadium by 6 thousand spectators,
to reach a total of 45 thousand
.
To do this, the level of the playing field had to be lowered, and the reseeding of the grass did not arrive in time to be optimal for the debut: the company in charge of the renovations gives details week after week on the official website of the club chaired by
Gonzalo Beautiful
.
In
Liniers
, the muddy grass with holes despite the absence of rain, ended up harming both teams but especially the local team, who had to fight against Independiente but also against the grass to reach Rey's goal.
Joaquín Laso
, former Velez and today in Rojo, scorer of the night (with a header), regretted playing in those conditions.
INDEPENDENT GOAL IN LINIERS!
Laso scored 1-0 against Vélez in the #CopaDeLaLiga.
Yes, just the law of the ex!
📺ESPN Premium |
Subscribe to the Football Pack at https://t.co/7jYILYBaMQ pic.twitter.com/BsCc5PjkTL
— SportsCenter (@SC_ESPN) January 31, 2024
Like Racing, the extra income that clubs receive by hosting recitals and events ends up harming the fundamental aspect that the institutions have, which are their soccer teams.
What is striking about Vélez is that last year, during the administration of President Rapisarda, he inaugurated a hybrid grass that was presumed to be resistant to these extra-sports activities in Amalfitani.
Huracán
and
Boca
prioritized common sense and chose to give up their locations, albeit with decisions that did not go unnoticed by their partners.
El Globo enjoyed the great condition of the playing field that Argentinos Juniors showed but had to play two hours before (the game started at 5 in the afternoon, with 36 degrees of heat), the fans had to go to La Paternal and in sports ended up losing 2-1 against Talleres.
Official statement: Tomás A. Ducó 📣
We inform our members and fans that we have done a great job on the Palace playing field, changing the entire grass for the first time in 75 years and working very hard to be able to reach optimal conditions. conditions at the beginning of… pic.twitter.com/XmzbjeTG8K
— CA Huracán (@CAHuracan) January 28, 2024
In the case of Xeneize, which will debut at home this Thursday in San Lorenzo, it will also have a grass in line with the level expected by the Professional League but it had to apply more filters for the already complicated entry of its members with a chance to go to the field , a situation that is already suffering in Bombonera and will become more intense in Bidegain.
From the club chaired by Juan Román Riquelme they explained that the reason for the move was unrelated to the club's planning but rather had to do with the delay in the controversial elections in December, when three tents were set up on the grass and removed. three weeks after what was expected as a result of the judicialization of the elections.
Video
Boca's field was neglected after the elections and thus is two weeks away from playing at home.
Argentine football, so punished in recent years, began 2024 with red numbers in one of the few aspects that could be foreseen: the blessed grass where the ball runs.
One more failure in "the product", as Claudio Tapia likes to call Argentine football.