Maradona Makes Nice In Africa

At the World Cup, Maradona seems to be fashioning himself as the most 'African' of non-Africans. He makes it a point to lavish praise on everything from South African fans to the organizing committee to the city of Pretoria ('One of the most beautiful in the world'). And he freely casts himself as defender of the host nation against those who doubted whether it could organize a competition like the World Cup, channelling some Barack Obama along the way: 'Today South Africa answers [the sceptics] 'yes, it can!'' he said on Friday. Short of wearing a Bafana Bafana jersey and blaring a vuvuzela, he could not be more of a cheerleader for the host nation.
马拉多纳并不是非洲人，在本届世界杯上，他似乎却极具非洲特色。无论是对南非球迷、组委会还是南非城市比勒陀利亚（被马拉多纳称为“世界上最美丽的城市之一”），他从不吝于溢美之辞。而且他还直率地力挺主办国南非，反驳那些怀疑南非是否有能力举办世界杯这种规模赛事的人，上周五，他搬出美国总统奥巴马的名言说：“如今的南非响亮地回应（怀疑者）：是的，它能！”除了没穿南非队的球衣、没大吹南非特有的加油装备“呜呜祖拉”，马拉多纳简直就是南非的啦啦队长。
  
Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the local media adore him. And even their international colleagues, until now so eager to outline his failings -- personal, tactical and managerial -- are slowly coming around. Those who feared that Mr. Maradona's outsized personality and quick temper (this is the man who, after all, was suspended for two months by FIFA for a foul-mouthed and abusive rant at reporters last fall) might lead to dissent in the Argentine ranks have thus far been proved wrong.
这样看来，当地媒体对马拉多纳推崇有加或许也没什么可意外的了。就连全球各地的媒体──它们到目前为止一直津津乐道于他在个性、战术、球队管理等诸多方面是如何失败──也在慢慢回心转意。此前不少人担心马拉多纳老子天下第一的个性和火爆脾气可能会令阿根廷队内部不和，然而从现在的情况看这种担心没什么道理。（要知道，马拉多纳去年秋天就曾因脏话连篇和朝记者破口大骂而被国际足联禁赛两个月。）
  
Mr. Maradona's team looked at once loose and determined in its 1-0 win over Nigeria on Saturday. The tight scoreline shouldn't mislead. But for some outstanding saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and some horrific finishing from Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi (who, to be fair, was brilliant in every other sense), Argentina could have easily scored four or five. What's more it was entertaining and dominant, in a way which is sure to seduce the neutral.
在上周六对阵尼日利亚的比赛中，马拉多纳带领的阿根廷队很放松，同时又带着必胜的决心，以1-0的比分小胜。不要被这个比分给误导了。要不是尼日利亚门将恩耶马(Vincent Enyeama)的多次精彩扑救，以及阿根廷前锋伊瓜因(Gonzalo HIGUAIN)和梅西(Lionel Messi)好几次临门一脚都有失水准，阿根廷本可以轻轻松松地进四五个球。（公平地说，梅西在场上其他方面的表现都十分出色。）另外，阿根廷队在这场比赛中踢得很轻松，占据了绝对优势，肯定会吸引原本中立的球迷。
  
Of course, there were also plenty of holes to be picked. Mr. Maradona's 3-4-3 formation, with Jonas Gutierrez doing double-duty as rightback, when Nigeria had possession, and winger, when Argentina was attacking, looked shaky. (To be fair, this kind of 'flex' 3-4-3 scheme is extremely sophisticated and requires a specialist to make it work. Mr. Gutierrez, normally a winger at club level, is probably in over his head.) Martin Demichelis looked a bit sluggish at the back and in midfield, Juan Sebastian Veron's 35-year-old legs looked heavy by the second half. But compared to the largely justified criticism Mr. Maradona was receiving for his team selection and tactics a few months ago, it's minor stuff.
当然，阿根廷队也还是有不少漏洞。马拉多纳排出的3-4-3阵型看上去有点悬，古铁雷斯(Jonas GUTIERREZ)身兼两职，在尼日利亚控球时他要充当右后卫，而在阿根廷发起进攻时又要从侧翼包抄。（公平地说，这种“灵活”的3-4-3阵型极其复杂，需要专擅此道的球员才能发挥作用。而古铁雷斯在俱乐部通常打的是边锋，身兼两职可能还是有点力不从心。）德米凯利斯(Martin DEMICHELIS)在后场和中场显得有些行动迟缓，已经35岁“高龄”的贝隆(Juan Sebastian Veron)到了下半场也好像有些迈不动腿了。不过相比马拉多纳几个月前因为人员选择和战略战术而受到的责难（基本上还算有道理），这些都是小问题。
  
Besides, as long as Argentina keeps winning the team's tactical imperfections will matter little to the rank-and-file fan and even less so to the neutrals. If there is a parallel 'hearts and minds' competition at this World Cup -- the kind which Brazil usually triumphs in -- the way things are going, Mr. Maradona seems to be in pole position right now.
此外，只要阿根廷一直打胜仗，普通球迷就不会在意战术上的小缺陷，中立的球迷就更无所谓了。通常在谁能拥有更多支持者的竞争中，巴西队总能胜出，然而要是本届世界杯也有这样一场竞赛，从现在的情形看，马拉多纳似乎占据了优势。