El Bruno

A few minutes ago the World Cup final was finished. Germany has earned his fourth star. I should congratulate them, or put me to write something to thanks our national football team to go and play a very nice until the final.

However, I look to one side and I see Valentino with tears in his eyes. I know he is just 6 years and that it should find words to comfort him, but the knot that I have in the throat not let me speak. Someday I will explain that this is Argentine football, this is our selection, we play and we win and we loss.

We, the Argentines never say “our national football team has lost against Germany“, we always say “we lost against Germany“. There is nothing more ours than the national football team and since we are very young we know that the national football team are all of us. Therefore, whenever we won the joy we have is indescribable and when we lose, is like dying a little. I do not think that there is an Argentine who lives 100 years, the small scars that leave us these matches do not heal ever.

That is why I need to explain to the Valentino, that it is okay to cry, which is also part of being Argentine. He was born in Spain, has enjoyed “la roja”, and now suffers with “la albiceleste”. If I look at the other side, his sister gives me a bit of envy. Martina with its 4 years old, is asleep from 15 min of the match. She has her shirt of Argentina and her maximum happiness was to decorate the House of light blue and white; also when we sang all the Argentinian songs before the start of the game and see how many people supported us before the start of the match. Not she’ll never miss the great DiMaria in this final or as “jefecito” Mascherano has become a national hero.

I see one crying and the other sleeping and still do not know what to do. My instinct tells me to talk to my dad, who is suffering with my brothers at 10000 kms of distance; Although I know that I will not win anything. My father has lived this with me 24 years in a row, now it’s my turn.

And it is that 28 years ago, in the Mexico WorldCup, the scenario was very similar. Our family was humble, very humble. We saw the worldcup matches in the house of one of the 2 people who had a television in our neighborhood. I had my shirt of Argentina (which was not an official one, it was light blue and white, and that was enough for me), and at my 10 years of age, I met “El Diego”.

Today he is created enemies largely for years and the press constantly punishes him. However when you are 10 years old, you love soccer and you see the things that made, he becomes your personal God. The draw with the Italians, the 2 goals against England which are a reflection of what is “to be Argentino” (we are the best and also the worst, as the Bersuit sings in his songs). The final against Germany, where we start by winning, then we get tied and we ended up winning with a historic goal. All this made me with 10 years to touch the sky, the number 10 would become something Mystic, and from that on I will always love my national football team.

Now I hear that Valentino asked me if the match can be played again. He believes that Messi still has played some magic trick, some special shot that can save us. I should tell him that no, that that does not exist; but I can’t do it because the 10 year old boy that I have inside, believes in the same thing.

Lie is the worst that a parent can do to a child, although I am grateful today that my old “lies to me” for 24 years. I thank my team for bringing us this far, and I thank my girl for giving me the opportunity to have a child with which share these emotions.

Thank you Argentina for a memorable month!!

A big greeting to all Argentines and those who supported us during the World Cup

/El Bruno