Monday, June 21, 2010

MESSID Campeador, let him inspire our troops

When I was a boy, I was fortunate enough to read a book which is an excellent classic, one of the many brilliant pieces from the old Spanish literature. This novel is called 'El Cantar de Mío Cid'.

Now this was the story about a Spanish knight called Rodrígo DÍAZ DE VIVAR, born around 1041 or 1054.

Known as 'El Cid Campeador', this man was a master military tactician and he was feared by all the other armies. He was invincible.

In 1094 he conquered the city of Valencia and became the ruler. It was a strategically placed city and it was under a constant pressure from the Almoravids. In one of the Almoravid attacks on Valencia, El Cid was hit by an arrow and died two days later.

Here's when the story gets interesting. Soon after he died, the Almoravids heard about it and decided to charge again to conquer Valencia. Little did they know that on the eve of that epic battle, El Cid's army came up with a brilliant plan.

What did they do? They got El Cid's dead body on his famous horse called Babieca and then they tied him up so he looked like he was alive (pretty much like the movie 'Weekend at Bernie's' if you allow me to compare such a classic novel with a silly -though incredibly funny- movie!). They gave him his sword and they formed around him as they defended the city from the Almoravid attack.

What happened next?

His enemies couldn't believe what they were seeing. They thought they had killed the man already. That's when they started thinking El Cid had supernatural powers. They thought the man was from another planet. They were scared to death and they had no option but to surrender and escape. How could they beat a man coming back from death and famous for having won every battle he fought?

Such was the fear and horror his figure would cause in his rivals. He was death. He was gone. But still, he managed to win that famous battle anyway.

I see Lionel MESSI (though he is pretty much alive and kicking and he needs no horse or sword, thank goodness), as a player that's able to cause the same effect on his rivals. Will Greece be as confident in their chances as they would be if our very own Cid Campeador was not playing? I don't think they will surrender and leave the pitch...but for sure they will fear him and they will take precautions if they want to stay alive and Lio can eventually make them pay.

Kind of like what MARADONA did when his ankle wasn't ready to play against Brazil. I mean...that thing had the size of a melon! He couldn't walk properly, but he played through pain and eventually, he killed Brazil in 1990. Four or five men in yellow lost their heads and went only after him. They wanted to stop that almost mythological figure and in trying to do that, they committed a capital sin and they left Claudio CANIGGIA wide open. That was their undoing. That was all our General Diego needed to lead his team to victory.

The more I though about it since yesterday, the more I realised we really need to play him from the start. Let him rest only if we are winning comfortably after a reasonable portion of the game has gone.

Keep MESSI on the bench when qualification to the next round is not secured at your own risk.

Give him the captain's armband and then wait for him to inspire our troops while he frightens the enemy.

I think this thing really has the makings of an epic story.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

come ooooooooooon. im greek! i dont like the story:)

johnny said...

Messi compared to El Cid !! He has been compared to alot of people, but I would bet never to El Cid ! Better El Cid than Don Quixote !!

Sebastian said...

Very funny, Johnny! I guess PALERMO would be Don Quijote and Diego could be his Sancho Panza! hahahaha!

GK said...

Weekend at BERNIES.... Good story nontheless. :)

Anonymous said...

Captain Sebastian, I must thank you for enhancing my world cup experience. Thank you especially for the effort put in this particular post.. it's magnificent.

Anonymous said...

Donno if this had appeared in the news feed earlier... but just for fun's sakes:

http://www.jpost.com/Sports/Article.aspx?id=179030

Even holy books are predicting his success...

Sebastian said...

Thanks GK! It's corrected now. But...to my credit...and to prove I've watched such a wonderful film, you have to admit that one of the characters was called LARRY! hahahaha!

Check it out! It's here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098627/

Minacapelli said...

Niceeee I hope argentina's sub prove what they can do. Messi as captain should boost him to another level. cant wait to see the game myselffff.

As always i will broadcast the game for you guys. www.justin.com/pepotero99
(if banned pepotero98)

Hoping to see a chat here before the game like always! :)

Anonymous said...

dream quarter - Arg vs England
dream semi - Arg vs Spain
dream final - Arg vs Brazil

vamos argentina

-Aziz-

Anonymous said...

Maradona deny all the rubbish who accuse him ruining Messi career. Maradona doesn't want Messi surprass him, bla..bla..so far, Messi enjoy his place with NT. He's playing for fun. That is what we need. Make him happy. Still, Maradona aware that soon or later Messi must become a leader of the team. It's nice too see Messi wear armband. He must show his leadership but with a fun. Agree or disagree, Maradona take the right decision.

Fadi Dagher said...

I don't want dream quarter-final, semi-final, or final. I just want to see them lifting the trophy, I don't care if it's against Honduras, with all of my respect :)

gebrihell said...

100% correct Fadi. I just want the cup. If the other teams fail to advance, why should we care? Of course it's more exciting to get the dream games, but then each must help himself. Tonight we have to help ourself, then we'll play whoever (Honduras or N Korea if u like)and get the cup.

Anonymous said...

my dream quarter-, semi- and final ist the ones we win. don't care against whom and how. there is nothing better than a road to the final like germany 2002.

Vitalij

rey said...

yes! i am glad that yuou have mentioned we have not qualified yet. We need to atleast draw this game..

but let us win..

Alan said...

All of a sudden South Africa has a glimmer of hope. They need to win 3-0 and have Uruguay beat Mexico 2-0.
If Nigeria beats S Korea and Argentina beats Greece (which of course they will) Nigeria goes through.

Anonymous said...

damn, not the mexicans again! then the easy road to the final we dreamed of can be forgotten, every game will be a fight to death.

Vitalij

johnny said...

Go South Africa ! Go Uruguay !!

Anonymous said...

MEXICO AGAIN!!!

Happer said...

Why do we have to be afraid of Mexicans guys... If they can't beat Uruguay, that means they're weaker. Their defence is not really good, Marquez is super slow, so I think it won't be so tough...

johnny said...

Argentina will beat Mexico like a worn out drum !!

Alex Camacho said...

I agree we should beat Mexico, but they always play us tough. They are due to beat us some time. That being said, we have a superior team and I expect us to win.

johnny said...

Sunday-3:30PM in Buenos Aires. El Cid prepares to kill off Porfirio Diaz !!

Anonymous said...

yes, in 2006 everyone said argentina will walk over mexiko. mexiko was weak in their group, but then it was so tough against them. but we must beat them, really. i am sure we beat then anyone who comes in the 1/4, even if it england.

Vitalij

Fadi Dagher said...

Happer, Mexico always comes strong against us, i don't know why. Everytime time beat them, but they really make us give a strong fight. Hopefully, this time it will be easy, i really hope so.

lz said...

Judging from the Mexico I saw playing the WC this time around (especially today against Uruguay) . . . I am not afraid --not that I ever was, frankly, especially with the team we happen to have for this WC. Certainly, no games are won until they are won: I will give you that! So, let's knock on wood, let's not get ahead of ourselves, and "a por ellos!" *Luc.

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