Sam

I guess the main purpose of "opinion pieces" is to give people something to disagree with - so I'll do my best!

First - the comparison of Holland from the 1970s with the current Argentina side. I think you start off by answering your own question - in terms of "achievement" at least - a "ridiculous comparison". Two World Cup Finals against two Copa America Finals - both lost against a team that apparently doesn't take the competition too seriously - and a Confederations Cup Final?

Perhaps another important difference though is that the 1970s side are seen - at least in the history books - as the pioneers of a new footballing style - Total Football. The Dutch were giving the football viewing public something they - or at least the vast majority of them (I'll leave it to a proper football historian to discuss where the origins of "total football" might have been seen previously) - were seeing for the very first time. That originality must count for something "extra".

Second - and possibly the bit I have to disagree with most -the implication that - to be amongst the most fondly remembered sides - it's better to be a "good loser" than a winner. In the next paragraph you mention Brazil 1970 - possibly the most fondly remembered side of all...

Personally I think it's a shame for football when one of the teams playing the best & most aesthetically pleasing football doesn't win. Argentina in this Copa of course (though I didn't see enough of the football to judge how "bad" Brazil really were); Argentina again in the 2006 WC - although Spain & even Germany would've been acceptable alternatives and the underrated & too soon forgotten Czech side of Euro 2004. But I think the majority of the football viewing public is discerning enough to appreciate the "best footballing sides" win or lose.

To be honest I'd probably have still struggled to believe it in 2002. I'd certainly have struggled to believe that four years later I'd actually have quite liked to see Argentina win the World Cup (once England couldn't) due to the quality of their football. I guess this is where our opinions converge - Argentina are the most watchable international side of the current era. I'm sure there's too much "historical bitterness" for a British audience ever to take them to their hearts anything like as much as the great Dutch - or Brazilian - sides of the past. The wider footballing world (and less "jingoistic" Brits) shouldn't have such problems though.

I often hear people (or at least football pundits) refer to Brazil as "most people's second favourite international side" because of the nature of their football. Perhaps based purely on "aesthetic merit" a few more football watchers should be shifting their allegiances westwards...

One last thing. The "want to win, but aren't afraid to lose" quote I associate with Marco Van Basten talking about Holland's chances in Germany - probably in his pre-World Cup WS interview - though I couldn't be sure without looking it up. Of course some TV pundit probably "stole it" and used it in a completely different context later.

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