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Argentina 1978: The World of the generals against Hitler

writer Jimmy Burns has called it "the most politicized sports circus since the 1936 Olympics " . A month of collective madness, stadium a short distance from the torture chambers and the armed soldiers at the gates. It 's a sport victory, or defeat of a people? And 'the football World Cup, Argentina 1978.

Argentina had pursued for years the dream of organizing the World Cup, but the difficult economic situation the country had always prevented implementation. The official task was completed in 1966 , the 'year of the world of England, confirming a very strong symbolic link, halfway between the gratitude and hatred, between Argentina and perfidious Albion.

During that World the National peaked international behaviors of excessive hardness, the limits of brutality, which sets it apart, as they well-learned Milan and Manchester United who challenged in the final of the Intercontinental Cup Estudiantes. After the race lost England with the landlady, in the subway to the locker room and assaulted the referee is an official FIFA spat. Only the combined intervention of stewards and police then prevents players from entering the locker room Argentine opponent. A simple vent due to the defeat or a response to the attitude of the patriotic Englishman Alf Ramsey, who had prevented his players to exchange jerseys with opponents, labeled as animals? In any case, their return the players were greeted as heroes. Rattini Antonio, who had been expelled in the match against England, was shrouded by the national flag.

Yet it was precisely the UK to bring the magic of football between the pampas.

Football and politics Argentina

Argentina has become a modern country in the second half of the nineteenth century, thanks mainly to investments in Britain. The British brought schools and clubs where he played polo, tennis and soccer, teaching the values \u200b\u200bof fair play and sportsmanship . In 1867 was founded the first football clubs in Argentina, the Buenos Aires Football Club, was launched in 1891 and the first championship. Football, a sport that is "poor", which requires only a ball, begins to spread in the suburbs of the city, and in 1913 the Racing Club of Buenos Aires, a team of only players from Argentina, won the championship.

Teams such as the rosary, rooted in the barrios, in the suburbs, we also educated the children and provided social support. They had already, long before it was approved universal male suffrage, structures 'democratic', in which all members participating in the elections to elect the president. The link between sport and politics has always been strong. Supporters of the teams, in exchange for free tickets for travel, often engage in political activities. curves become so politicized circles . The links have always been significant but also at the institutional level. The presidents of the Federation of Argentina, the AFA, have always maintained contacts with political groups in power, both civil and military. A phenomenon that has intensified during the first Peronist period, between 1946 and 1955. Juan Peron was present often in the stands and assured financial support to the sport, while his wife Evita sponsored youth football leagues.

The announcement of 1966, the promise of the organization of the world seem to be the best conditions for a waiting period of stability . But it will not.

The political crisis of the '70s

student riots, thefts, kidnappings and killings are happening daily with regularity in Argentina of the 70s. The March 11, 1973 were held in the last 10 years, free elections . He was elected President Hector Campora, a Peronist left. The President calls

Juan Peron from exile in Spain. Peron lands at Ezeiza in Buenos Aires June 20, 1973 . To welcome more than three million people. Among them terrorists loyal to Jose Lopez Rega, Peron's former personal secretary, who had accompanied him during his exile, who led the phalanx of the right of the grid loyal to Peron. Ezeiza airport fought two terrorist groups: the Montoneros, left, who believed to embody the vision of the social-revolutionary Peronism authentic, and the "Allianz Anticommunist Argentina", or "Triple A", Rega, which was part Stefano also of Chiaia, who had worked in Operation Gladio, and is alleged to have played a role in the attack in Piazza Fontana. The official version is about 13 victims, but the account could be salty, but has never been opened an official inquiry into the facts.

Campora resigned in July 1973, allowing Peron to win the election. But his reign lasts only one year. Juan Domingo Peron died of a heart attack on 1 July 1974 ; succeeded by his wife, Isabel, Jose Lopez Rega on which to exercise decisive political influence. Democracy has its days numbered. Despite an international image now deteriorated, however, the country saves the organization of World Championships. During the 1974 edition of in West Germany, in fact, it was decided not to change the venue for the next world.

Isabela Martinez Peron is overthrown March 24, 1976 by a military junta led by General Jorge Rafael Videla . And 'the beginning of the military dictatorship, the "National Reorganization Process".

failures and revivals football

As often happens, and happens in this story with a brilliant example, football becomes mirror of politics. And the National Reorganization runs on parallel tracks with respect to the reorganization of national after the failures of the first half of the '70s. At mundial Mexican Argentines are forced to watch from home between 4-3 Italy and Germany and the header of Pele which remains the most vivid symbol of the triumph of green and gold on blue. Four years later there is so much better: in the first round elimination.

The four-year period, without the hassle of the quest for qualification, becomes the scene of a revolution Rousseau, a step backwards as progress, as a reappropriation of the concept of football as primitive beauty, typical of Argentine culture. The new man became Cesar Luis Menotti, "El Flaco," the lanky, politically radical, so far from the political ideas and the project of the military junta that took power in 1976.

The "dirty war"

Three months after the seizure of power, the Argentine military junta officially met with U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. The latter gave its broad support for the so-called "dirty war" policy of repression and killing of political dissidents in place by the junta.

political dissidents, or suspected, as well as ordinary citizens who had considered even mildly leftist ideas, were kidnapped and disappeared forever. Official surveys speak of nine thousand "disappeared", but the number is certainly higher, many cases were not in fact reported, and records were destroyed. Like any dictatorship, led by Videla junta also imposed a strict regime of censorship on the press by imposing very strong restrictions freedom of speech. Kissinger attended the meeting with Argentine foreign minister, Admiral Cesar Guzzetti, in August of '76 will tell the UN General Assembly: "My idea of \u200b\u200bsubversion is that of terrorist organizations on the left. The right-wing terrorism is not the same thing. When the social body of a nation is contaminated by a disease, the form of antibodies. These antibodies are not considered in the same way microbes. "

Guzzetti and Kissinger met June 10, 1976, at the Hotel Carrera in Santiago, Chile time already over a thousand people were gone forever. Santiago is another symbol of the city: at that time Chile was dominated by the dictatorship of Pinochet, and thousands of dissidents were tortured, beaten and killed in the stadium in the capital. In the same stadium where a few months later, in December of 1976, Italy would have won his first and only Davis Cup tennis. An expedition, that of the blue in Chile, much opposed by the PCI and PSI, who wanted to imitate what was done by the Soviet Union to the semifinals, and boycott the trip to a country under a dictatorship coup. The headquarters of the Italian tennis federation was devastated by the Protestant cry of "not playing volley against Pinochet Executioner." Stadium of Santiago, for the occasion decorated with flowers and flags of all nations participating in the league, Italy raised the bowl to the sky.

bread and circuses

Videla in Buenos Aires has inherited a prestigious and difficult task, and turns it into a political tool to broaden the basis of consensus and legitimize the nation's image in the eyes domestic and international public opinion.

The reorganization process goes on. Wages are frozen, trade unions abolished, torture and killings continue incessantly; newspapers, under close supervision, substantial support the regime. The only form of opposition that remains, still, that happens every Thursday night in front of the presidential palace in Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires. There, under the Casa Rosada , meet the mothers of the disappeared, which for half an hour ride in a circle, silently, the perimeter of the square. To intimidate, the military has also hired hooligans from among the most violent fans of the curves, the barras bravas. But the silent opposition, which began April 30, 1977, continues, and the approaches mundial. Among the victims disappeared also brother of Robert Moresi, a former River Plate striker , killed at age 17 with six shots in the head because militant Peronist Youth.

The nation is flooded with posters with the slogan " 25 million Argentines will play World Cup." Even if, as Simon Kuper commented in "Football and power" would be more correct to write "25 million Argentines pay for World Cup," cost the government figure of 7 monstre 00 million dollars for organizational costs , plus another 300 million for extra . The World is an opportunity to divert the world from violence and human rights violations. General Omar Actis, head of the organizing committee of the event, took an American public relations & Burson Marsteller, to show the world the best possible face of the nation. A few months after the opening whistle is launched Operation "El Barrido. They razed the slums on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, and the inhabitants evacuated in the province of Catamarca. In Rosario, the main boulevard, to hide the poverty of the suburbs, you build a wall painted with pictures of beautiful houses.

Persecution meanwhile intensified. are arrested more than 200 people a day to avoid speaking with foreign journalists and unveil the hidden truths of the scheme.

Because the purpose of dictatorship can be made to say, it is essential that Argentina will win the cup. For this reason, the military confirmed the technical guide "el Flaco" Menotti. Tell Osvaldo Ardiles, " No one could criticize the government. It was obvious that Menotti does not think like the military , and no doubt many times thought of replacing it. But it was considered the only chance of winning the World Cup, so they tolerate. "

Inspiring the renaissance of the Argentine national team, became Menotti, malgre him a tool of the regime. The generals and the opposition want the same thing, the cup with the wings, and Menotti flock to the hopes of an entire nation.

The only small, off-key voice in the chorus was unanimous by Johan Cruyff: "At this stage of things, not me Argentina open the country more right to organize a World Cup, either from the point of view of safety for the players, nor from that of regular competition, "he says without a hearing. History will show that he was right.

After an initial phase is not fully convincing, which began with the defeat against Italy, Argentina qualifies for the semifinal round with Brazil, Poland and Peru. The game does not take off Argentina, the striker Mario Kempes is still dry after three races . It unlocks with Poland June 14, in Rosario, then assigns the Swedish referee Eriksson a penalty to the Poles, who wasted Deyn before doubling the same Kempes. Brazil overwhelms Peru 3-0. Four days later, there's adrenaline, and not just in the air. In the area of \u200b\u200bArgentina and Brazil play soccer rather than football: 0-0 is the only possible outcome.

missing a day to define the purpose of the group, and Brazil is ahead on goal difference at the same point: 3-0 against 2-0 for the Argentines. On June 21 is the day of truth. To promote the television (and beyond) the matches of the day do not play simultaneously. At 16:45 to Mendoza Brazil faces Poland. win 3-1 with goals from outside Nelinho and two goals from Roberto Dynamite. The National Auriverde closes with five points, six goals scored and only one right away. Argentina, on the field at 19:15 to Rosario, must win against Peru with four-goal margin. That game will go down in history as the marmelade peruana.

The marmelade peruana

Renzo Arbore sing a few years later, certainly not referring to this event, "how does a marmelade sao? With fruit zuccherada and a bit 'of liquorao. In 1978 to prepare the sweet marmelade and just one door compliant.

The first suspect in fact already emerging combine the reading of the formations. In goal for Peru's Ramon Quiroga, known as "el Loco" , the Mad, which he remembers a fallacciano on side in the match against Poland. Quiroga is actually Argentinian, was a naturalized Peruvian a year before the world, and he played between 1969 and 1973 for Rosario Central, takes place in the stadium where the semi-finals. The Central had reached the great football skills in persuading all the outlets through which balances the drawbacks of short stature. At 23, in 1973, the Peruvian team Sporting Cristal, offers him a good contract. Quiroga remain there for two years before returning home, all'Independiente. Sporting Cristal in 1977 for the new hires and offers the added benefit of naturalization, which opens the doors of the world. Menotti fact Fillol trusts and prefers Lavolpe as reserves, future coach of Mexico, and Baley. "El Flaco" has also set aside "El Loco" original, Hugo Gatti. In the initial round Quiroga is the best in the field against the Netherlands, in Mendoza. We defended well in in Cordoba with Scotland and Iran, and again in Mendoza, with Brazil and Poland.

back on June 21 in Rosario, in the stadium which he knows every blade of grass. Before the game Brazilian executives report to the Peruvian Federation the opportunity to deploy Sartor holder. But the coach Marcos Calderon (who died in 1987 with all the famous Alianza Lima air disaster) do not listen to reason. Quiroga is on the field, to defend the national stakes of a now deleted, in its true home.

The beginning seems to remove the suspicions: the wind speed Peruvian Juan Muñante hole in the defense of home and surprise strikes a resounding pole.

But the minutes went by revealing the warp and woof of the farce. Kempes to 20 ' Albiceleste the door ahead, and Alberto Tarantini before the break down the result on 2-0. It takes just two networks still in Argentina to win the final of the Monumental on Sunday 25 June. the 5 'end of the recovery mission is accomplished , accomplice surrender of red and white defense: Kempes scores his second one-two staff, then comes the 4-0 Leopoldo Luque, who has a brother who died during the World Cup. In order not to arouse too much suspicion came a goal from Houseman and doubling staff Luque. The screams of joy of millions of Argentines cover those tortured pain of young people to the "Escuela Superior de Mecanica de l'Armada" of Buenos Aires.

Quiroga Years later admit the combine, but the sides still to clarify on the affair are still many. In the years following one of the key players of the Peruvian national Jose Velazquez, had unearthed strange events that had inspired the vigil, including a visit in the locker room of the Argentine head of state, General Jorge Videla, accompanied by U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Visit to the choice of which was followed by technical training in the reintroduction of the goalkeeper Quiroga, initially excluded. Moreover, the journalist Tim Pears, in a detailed article appeared in "The Observer Sport Monthly" reveals that before the game gave the Argentine government thirty-five thousand tons of wheat to Peru, and opened a credit line $ 50 million. From whom did you get that money?

According to the confession of the son of a boss, from the Colombian Cali cartel drug traffickers. In his book "El Hijo del Ajedrecista 2" ("The Son of the Checker 2" ), Fernando Rodriguez Mondragon, son of Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, adds more pieces to the puzzle of the game. His father, one of the most powerful drug mafia boss in Colombia, his uncle Miguel, would bring an unspecified amount of money to the Peruvian team, bribe for ensuring qualification to the finals of the national home. The final

There are eighty thousand people packed the stands dell'Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires June 25, 1978. It 's the day of the final world championship. In the gallery Videla and his junta, the "associate themselves with military cemeteries with crosses on his chest." Next to them Licio Gelli, head of the Masonic lodge P2, which was also a member of Lopez Rega, whose "Democratic Revival Plan" echoed very closely, "El Proceso" Videla.

But Menotti to his players before coming into camp, asking not to turn to the general , asked to look at the butchers, bakers, factory workers, taxi drivers, to the entire people waiting for the triumph. "It was terribly hot," says Johnny Rep, "c 'were soldiers with machine guns on every corner , and our bus took an hour to walk twenty kilometers separated us from the stage because the roads were full of people who threw stones at the windows of the driver and beat his fists against the half crying 'Argentina!, Argentina!'. No, the atmosphere was not beautiful. "

Argentina had been the replacement of the arbitrator appointed by FIFA for the last act, the Israeli Abraham Klein (who had remedied them directly into defeat in the tournament, 0-1 against Italy) with an Italian, Sergio Gonella . It will be a one-way direction, fatally "housewife."

El Flaco Menotti, beyond the advantages of arbitration, was found to square the circle of his nationality, but on the other hand, on the bench, there is the strategist Austrian Ernst Happel , who hopes to redeem the Dutch pride still wounded by defeat in the final four years earlier, again with the organizers of the World West Germany. Happel knows that Argentina is fast, but not great back, and decides to attack it. But after 37 'Mario Kempes diagonally anticipates the release of Jongbloed. Argentina ahead.

Gonella fragments game, warns the Dutch for every trifle, forgive the Argentinians kicking and squashing. But the pace of the match is anything but fluid. The final, however ugly, seems headed toward a foregone conclusion. But 9 ' the end and Luis Galvan Tarantini mess, thanks Poortvliet and equalized. The Netherlands believes it, he wants to win against everything and everyone.

Minute 89, 'Argentina holds its breath, a whole nation is on the brink of despair, fear of reliving a new Maracanazo (Brazil's defeat against Uruguay in the final World 1950 in Rio). In one minute you see any difference between reality and ethics, between justice and reward the guilty. With the eyes of an entire nation focused on him, even Fate takes a stand, decide the fate, almost like a Greek god worthy of the Homeric poems, to take sides, and wearing a scarf albiceleste. R ob Rensenbrink collects and pulls a shot safely into an empty . The orange are ready to scream with joy, the Argentines are hoping for a miracle. And the miracle comes: pole! A cm, il confine sottile tra la vittoria e la sconfitta. Perché l'Olanda la finale la perde qui, la perde nel carattere, nella mente, nel cuore prima che sul campo, nell'appendice dei tempi supplementari che serve solo a scrivere nella forma quanto già sancito nella sostanza.

I tempi supplementari servono solo a regalare ulteriore gloria a Daniel Bertoni e permettere a Mario Kempes di vincere il titolo di capocannoniere. Videla ha vinto.

The screams of joy coming from the stage there's certainly up to the windows of the 'Escuela de Mecanica de the Armada, one of the centers of the torture regime. From here you have passed about 5000 inmates, more than 90% of whom died after days of inhuman torture and humiliation. The few survivors say that here, as in other concentration camps, such as the Garage Olimpo, torture is interrupted during the matches of the . Even the death flights, in which political prisoners were thrown off a plane, naked, in the open ocean, his chest ripped open because the dead do not return to the surface. The prisoners celebrating goals as a catharsis, but 90 ' horror resumed as if nothing had happened.

Are there really 25 million hands on the cup with the wings, in addition to those players who made the firm and who had friends or relatives in the list of the disappeared. There were also the hands of the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who revealed to Simon Kuper: "With the world has known all over the world our story." We have designed at least in part of the ideal of Montoneros, who wanted to transform the mundial in a huge press conference to inform the world of the suffering of the Argentine people.

Resta un dilemma però. Menotti, con il suo calcio fatto di bellezza ed eleganza, ha aiutato il regime portando la nazionale alla vittoria, o si è opposto alla dittatura facendo trionfare la bellezza sulla forza? Una cosa è certa, quella notte di giugno c’è una sola bandiera che sfila per le strade di Buenos Aires. Portata in trionfo dai calciatori, artefici di una vittoria e strumento di un regime. Così Ardiles svela a Tim Pears her feelings:

We were competing in the finals at the stadium of River Plate, and three-quarter mile was the naval mechanics school. Only after we found out that was the main torture center in the navy. And I think, when checked, all we could hear. The guards even said to the prisoners 'we're winning', that's probably reported him. Do not say, 'The Argentina is winning' but 'we're winning'. One is the torturer, the other his victim. And then I think, 'those who were detained as they felt, happy or sad?'. In a sense they were happy because they were from Argentina, and we were winning World Cup for the first time in our history. Wonderful. But they knew that victory meant that the military dictatorship would last much longer. That would not be released. How they felt in those moments?