Argentinian National Team recorded their third World Cup Win. The Messi-led squad defeated the reigning Football champions in a nail-biting finishing, which went down to the wire. With the World Cup win, Lionel Messi won his first World Cup.
The Argentinian team has won the FIFA Football World Cup on two occasions before the 2022 edition. The South American team won the cup in 1978 and 1986.
Lionel Messi was the highest goal scorer for Argentina in the Finals
Did you know that there was an invaluable contribution of a Pakistani-Bhopali in helping Argentina win its first world cup in 1978?
Cesar Menotti, Argentina’s football manager, took notes from the then manager of the Pakistan Hockey team, which helped him and his team win their first world cup, but how did it all unfold?
The Backdrop
The 1978 Hockey World Cup was one of the greatest sporting events in the history of Pakistan. The team had not only won the prestigious World Cup but also created several records while doing the same. The team’s leadership group under the management of Bhopal-born Abdul Waheed Khan was lauded for the same.
Abdul Waheed Khan : File Photo
How Abdul Waheed Khan helped the Argentinian team?
The Hockey World Cup was not the only global event held in the South American country in 1978. The same year, Argentina also hosted the FIFA Football World Cup, and the locals were yearning for the home team’s victory.
After the success in the Hockey World Cup, Argentinian coach Cesar Menotti met the Manager of the Pakistani team Abdul Waheed Khan, to exchange some tactics. According to reports, the Pakistani Olympian suggested Menotti use the ‘Double Attack’ technique.
Argentina won their first ever FIFA World Cup in 1978
The ‘Double Technique’ required a team to attack from the right side. It would result in the opposition concentrating more on that side and then changing the sides to use the vacuum on the left side. Cesar Menotti took notes of the same and the rest, as they say, is history. Later the same year, Argentina went on to win their first-ever FIFA World Cup.
Who was Abdul Waheed Khan?
Born in Bhopal, Abdul Waheed was a member of Pakistan’s first Olympic Gold, when the team won in the 1960 Olympics. The Hockey legend passed away at the age of 87 in Karachi, earlier this year.
