Caniggia: Argentina's best attacking players can put fear into anyone
- Claudio Caniggia played at three World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 2002
- Cani explains how to keep up with a footballing genius like Diego Maradona
- He is expecting “an attacking, attractive World Cup” in Russia
It is the kind of question that is asked all the time by Argentinian football fans in their Whatsapp gatherings. Furthermore, for those beyond 35 one years old, there is one strike that instantly makes everybody's main five: Cani's objective against Brazil in Italia '90.
It is the one minute that completely epitomizes what Claudio Caniggia intends to Argentinian football. He may have played for both River Plate and Boca Juniors, however, he never had a place with a specific club. Or maybe, Caniggia is a national icon.
He was in three Argentina FIFA World Cup™ squads (1990, 1994 and 2002), framed a deadly association with Diego Maradona, and the picture of his long brilliant hair is carved into the old stories of the planet's head competition.
At 51 years old, as lean as ever and as yet wearing that same notorious hairstyle, Claudio Caniggia talked with FIFA about his own particular World Cup recollections and the expected competition in Russia.
There are only a few days to go until the start of another World Cup. How would you feel in the weeks leading up to the tournament?
It's remarkable. It's an inclination not at all like some other competition. In those days I was energized however in the meantime, quiet. I never let the weight get to me. There are some folks who experience difficulty resting as the competition moves close, and until the point that they go ahead. Or on the other hand, there are the individuals who never go ahead, which has occurred previously (snickers). There are players who used to be unmistakable starters, and after that never play again. The national group is extraordinary, notwithstanding for the individuals who play in real competitions with their clubs.
For many of you, it seemed to trigger a sort of insatiable hunger.
Back then, footballers were wilder and much more expressive. I think the wider public identified with the players much more than they do now. And I’m not just talking about Argentina. It’s a generational thing. The situations we experienced were rawer; football wasn’t so organised back then, but we were able to adapt to the chaos. We could cope with anything. The only things that mattered were the shirts on our backs, and the fact that we were representing millions of people.
Back then, footballers were wilder and much more expressive. I think the wider public identified with the players much more than they do now. And I’m not just talking about Argentina. It’s a generational thing. The situations we experienced were rawer; football wasn’t so organised back then, but we were able to adapt to the chaos. We could cope with anything. The only things that mattered were the shirts on our backs, and the fact that we were representing millions of people.
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