Renaldo (41 page)

been the World Cup semifinal game, a game that held so much promise for the

Cinderella Polish side, promise that was washed away in a torrential downpour

that left the field of play little better than a quagmire. The tight scheduling of

the tournament forced the game to proceed, and even impartial onlookers still

commented to this very day about the strange bounces that the ball took off

the saturated pitch.

The game was, nevertheless, magical, with Herculean efforts given by

both sides. The West German home side was inspired by their vocal, horn-

blowing followers, but the Polish defense was equal to the task . . . almost.

188

RENALDO

Tournament scoring sensation Gerd Mueller was, once again, the man of the

hour, placing the ball in the back of the Polish goal behind their brilliant

keeper, Tomaszewski, late in the second half. Had the game been played under

proper conditions, well, the result could have been much different, according to

the Poles. But the result stood, and the West Germans advanced to the final,

while the valiant underdogs would now play for the bronze medal.

What upset the Poles about their particular placement in Argentina ’78

was that not only were they grouped with the West Germans again, but they

would have to face them in the opening game of the tournament, in River Plate

Stadium, on June first. Not an appealing proposition at all. The deed was done,

however, and like all the rest of the participants, the Poles had to play with the

hand that young Master Teixeira had dealt them.

Spain and Scotland followed in succession. By the time the draw was

completed, everyone in the building breathed a collective sigh of relief.

Argentina’s opponents, along with Italy, would be France and Hungary.

The two latter teams were considered by most experts to be unknown quantities,

but at least the host nation would be playing against three European teams

that all prescribed to a similar style of ‘continental’ football. The draw and

its international transmission had gone exceedingly well, and Astor Gordero

was the first one to open a bottle of his favorite champagne and offer a glass to

President Havelange, in celebration.

The two men engaged in lively conversation as they stood at the foot

of the giant marquee that was now decorated with the names of the sixteen

participants that would strive to make the World Cup trophy their own. The

board, so critical to each country’s aspirations, was demarked as follows:

Not everyone was happy, but there could be no finger-pointing and

accusations of a ‘fix.’ President Havelange was a powerful and extremely

influential figure in the world of international football. To even imply that

there had been the slightest irregularity would be considered a personal affront

to the president. It was also opportune that he was Brazilian by birth, a fact

that helped to gag Argentina’s most vocal critic.

Now the guessing was over. The torch was ready to be passed to Octavio

189

JAMES McCREATH

Suarez, allowing him to assemble and prepare a team that could sweep

Argentina past their first three European opponents and into the second round

of the tournament.

190

Everyone be seated, please, and I will try to get you out of here as quickly

as possible. Some of you I have only met on the opposing sides of a

soccer pitch. To those people, welcome! I am Octavio Suarez, National

Team manager of Argentina’s World Cup ‘78 squad. I have had the opportunity

of at least conversing with all of you on the telephone, if not in person. To those

of you whom I have met with, welcome also. I am glad that our attendance is

one hundred percent. That does not count the three players who are still being

held hostage in Europe. We will discuss them at a later point in the meeting.

“I would now like to introduce you to the remainder of my National

Team coaching staff. Estes Santos, of Newton’s Prefects Under Twenty-One

squad will be our goalkeeper coach and defensive strategist. Ubaldo Luque,

from River Plate F.C. will handle physical conditioning and offensive strategy.

But not to confuse the issue, I will have the final say on everything. The team is

my show, no one else’s. I personally will take the blame, while you the players,

if we are successful, will take the credit. That is how it works. My word is the

final word, the only word. Defy me, and you will be gone!”

Suarez was attired in a navy blue blazer and grey slacks. On the breast

pocket of the jacket was sewn the golden crest of the Argentine Football

Association, the black letters ‘AFA’ clearly visible.
The manager is surprisingly

well-groomed and relaxed compared to our first meeting almost a month ago,
Renaldo

thought.

“There are any number of rookies and veterans waiting to take your spots.

Some of the faces in this room are not household names, yet! Others among

you have reputations to live up to. Reputations of being fine football players

and also unmanageable prima donnas! Make no mistake . . . this team will be

a dictatorship, not a democracy. I will purge any and every ego I see standing

between us and ultimate victory. If anyone has a problem with that, there is

the door, use it!”

Not a soul attempted to rise from their seats. Each and every man

assembled in the room wanted to be a part of the greatest experience in

Argentina’s history. Suarez waited almost a full minute, peering into the faces

of his attentive audience. When he was satisfied with the reaction of his charges,

he proceeded.

JAMES McCREATH

“We know who our first round opponents are now. We open against

Hungary on June the second in Buenos Aires. It is fortunate that there will

be no traveling for us during the first round. That allows us to settle into our

training facilities and maintain a routine schedule. France is our second test,

and they will be tough, as will the Italians. Only the top two teams go through

to the second round, so every game, every goal, every save, and every tackle, are

all of the utmost importance.”

Everyone present, even the most experienced of veterans, knew that Suarez

spoke the absolute truth. The fight for possession of the championship trophy

would be grueling and unforgiving.

“Those of you that have not received your training manuals, I refer to

them as your ‘bibles,’ raise your hands and the coaches will distribute them. We

do not officially open training camp in Mar del Plata for another month, but

I cannot stress enough the importance of arriving there in top condition, both

mental and physical. We will have at our disposal, thanks to the generosity

of the organizing committee, a host of doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists,

and psychologists to cure whatever ailments you bring with you. But in the

meantime, be sensible! Train according to the bible, eat properly, get the right

amount of sleep, stay away from booze, and for God’s sake, unless you are

married, keep your fly zipped shut!”

There was sporadic laughter at the last comment, mostly from the younger

players. Renaldo, having heard the same lecture during his first meeting with

the boss, managed to stifle any amused reaction that he otherwise might have

displayed.

“Don’t laugh, my little ones! Some of you are just like children. You must

be told a frightening story before you believe the dangers that surround you.

Four years ago in Germany I had to send one of my best players home because

he got the clap so badly he couldn’t pee. Got it in Argentina, during training

camp! He came home in disgrace, to waiting divorce papers! Some of you know

the man I am referring to. Needless to say, he is not in this room with us

now.”

Not even a smile was to be found in the room after the manager’s graphic

example.

“We have eight, maybe ten exhibition matches lined up. Three against

European teams that are not in the tournament, but who will still be able to

educate us in the continental style of football.”

Suarez paused for a moment, as if there was something important that he

had forgotten to reveal to his new ‘family.’

“I want to clear up one matter, with regards to my starting game rosters.

Many of you who know me are aware of my philosophy on substitutions during

a match. Basically, I don’t believe in substitutions unless it is a case of disabling

192

RENALDO

injury. What I am looking for, the thing that I always seek in my starting

lineups, is an intangible harmony between the eleven men on the field. It is a

‘feeling’ that I hope eleven of you will develop over time. A ‘feeling’ that will

spur you to fight each other’s battles, on and off the field. I don’t know who the

eleven are yet. We have months of preparation to determine that. But let me say

in all honesty, that your actions will speak much louder than your reputations

in determining whether or not you are included in that special group. Everyone

starts with a clean slate in my plan. Rookie, veteran, it doesn’t matter. True

harmony and unselfish spirit are what I am seeking. I want eleven of you on the

pitch from start to finish, fighting each other’s battles, together as one group of

players, a true ‘team!’”

Absolute silence greeted Suarez’s last word. The manager had been

strongly criticized in the past for this same strategy of not using substitutions,

but only when his teams failed to capture whatever prize they were pursuing.

On the occasions when Suarez was triumphant, and the latter far outnumbered

the former, the manager would always say that the ‘spirit’ of his eleven starters

was responsible for the team’s success. Not a man listening in that room at

Velez Sarsfield Stadium was willing to offer a dissenting opinion.

“The full team roster and the list of fixtures will be handed out separately

at the end of the meeting. The coaches and I will now meet with each of you

individually for a few short minutes to get reacquainted. The last point that I

want to stress to you all is about the working press and our relationship with

them. I am the only spokesman for this team. Be very clear on that! All press

releases and press interviews will be set up and controlled by me. If I hear that

any one of you has spoken to the press without my prior approval, you will

be gone faster than shit through a goose! Do you understand me? Good! No

information that has been discussed here today will be divulged to anyone, for

after all, this has been a private meeting that never took place according to the

press. How could it have, if they didn’t know about it?”

Laughter filled the room for the first time since the manager started his

address. Even Suarez had a broad grin on his face at the thought of pulling a

fast one on the despised media vultures.

“The formal introduction of the National Team will take place at a gala

fundraising event on February the twelfth at the Teatro Colon. It will be carried

live on national television, and you will all have your moment in the limelight

then. The press will be all over you between the gala and our departure two

days later for Mar del Plata, so remember to clear all interviews with me before

you open your mouth. Until the moment you walk on that stage on the night of

February twelfth, no one is officially on the National Team. I refuse to have the

press or anyone else run this program by second-guessing my decisions. There

will be time enough for that in the future.

193

JAMES McCREATH

Also, be aware that there are three players still playing in Europe who I

want for this team. When they will become available to me, what kind of shape

they will arrive in, and whether or not they will fit into my system remains

to be seen. But their personal jersey numbers, ‘,’ ‘10,’ and ‘15,’ will be given

up by the players who are prescribed those numbers on the first roster list the

moment these men return to Argentina. Understood? You will all have a fair