Thread by @shaunjlawson

There is a problem with this typically beautiful piece by @marc_cart: who like Messi, is an artist.

theguardian.com/football/2021/…

"He still relishes milanesas (veal escalopes soaked in egg and breadcrumbs and deep fried)... often seen sipping his mate or enjoying generous barbecues"

Marcela: how does this embody Argentinian-ness when Uruguayans do the exact same thing?

This, by the way, is among the reasons I supported Argentina in 2014 and 2015, and will do so again today. Because they and Uruguayans are practically identical - yet somehow, different.

It's a national pastime in Uruguay to moan about Argentinians: almost always playfully, I should add.

My response to anyone doing that has invariably been:

- Football
- Mate
- Dulce de leche
- Tango
- Asados
- Milanesas
- Gauchos
- Staying out all night long til 6, 7, 8am

In other words:

YOU ARE THE SAME AS THEY ARE

And yet, for whatever reason, Argentina's view of itself is so based on passion, emotion and extremes. Uruguay's on a very low key calm and reason.

But that's only because Uruguayans are desperate to show how different they are. 😉

And that, by the way, is the big secret here.

Argentinians love Uruguay; Uruguayans find this patronising, especially in football. Those from Buenos Aires are mocked for being 'porteños' - which is quite funny given Montevideo is a port too, and has its fair share of rich snobs.

In fact: ALL capital cities have more than their fair share of rich, sneering snobs!

But the stereotype of Argentinian 'arrogance' - a woefully unfair one - sticks. And as Uruguay only has 3m people and is sandwiched between two giants, how do they differentiate themselves?

Answer: by being as 'low profile' as possible. Uruguayans are the only people I've ever come across who routinely refer to *themselves* as humble... which is suspicious. Very suspicious.

Because humility is in the eye of the beholder.

And it's quite impossible for such a small nation to have achieved as incredibly much as Uruguay has in football while being 'humble'.

On the contrary: so many teams have tapped into a very hard, very smart, incredibly patriotic emotional edge.

But Uruguayans everywhere all play the same game. 'We are pathetic!' 'We are a joke!'

In football, they play the role of the hustler in the pool bar... who pretends to be awful for the first couple of frames, so their opponent gets cocky. Then they make off with all the loot.

And more broadly: I think Uruguayans like to play everything down so much not just to appear as Argentinians' opposites - but because if the world ever found out how beautiful this country is, Uruguay wouldn't be Uruguay any more.

3.5m people in a country the size of England and Wales. A population massively outnumbered by cattle. So much green space everywhere - endless beaches too, which are empty for 8 or 9 months a year.

It's a little paradise. But it wouldn't be if the world ever realised it.

So playing the tortoise to Argentina's hare suits this country perfectly. But 'humble'? Gimme a break. 🤣It's false modesty, however entertaining it is to observe.

Back in 2014, few Uruguayans were on Argentina's side. This changed dramatically a year later.

Because of the manner of La Celeste's exit against hosts Chile.

Today, I'm hopeful that significant numbers here will want Messi finally to do it; at last to win something with his country. Plus Argentina look a proper team in a way Uruguay's individuals just don't.

True, if Argentina win, they draw level with Uruguay on 15 Copas America won (Brazil have won nine) - but y'know, they'd only be level. Not ahead of Uruguay, so hopefully the public can handle that.

But an Argentina-England double this weekend would make me VERY VERY happy.

And the reason I like - and have mostly always liked - the Argentina team is pretty similar to why I love Uruguay.

The people. Who contrary to their constant protestations, are essentially identical. And great, brilliant people with it.

VAMOS ARGENTINA 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷