Tevez's 2011 Penalty Miss & Pain of Copa America Failure Must Spur on Argentina

The final image of the 2011 Copa America was an all-too-painful one for Argentina. Striker Carlos Tevez hammered the final nail into the coffin of the campaign with an awful penalty, ensuring that the hosts and favourites would go out at the quarter-final stage to Uruguay. Now, four years later, the Albiceleste face another do-or-die clash against their historic rivals, and again, defeat is not an option. 

"If this one goes to penalties, we are screwed," a journalist in the press box at Colon de Santa Fe's General Stanislao Lopez stadium predicted with grim certainty as the last-eight match wound to an anticlimactic close. The atmosphere in the newly renovated arena had been optimistic at the start of play, for both teams. 

The masses of Argentina fans had converged on the province to watch Tevez, Lionel Messi and the rest of the superstars expected to break the jinx of 17 years and lift the Copa America on home soil. But the hardy contingent of Celeste fanatics who had crossed the Rio de la Plata were also hopeful, as Oscar Tabarez's workmanlike troops looked to improve on the World Cup semi of a year beforehand. History would also seem to favour the underdog in the site of the 2011 crunch match. 

Dolores Ochoa/Associated Press

Nicknamed the Elephants' Graveyard, the name is a testament to the great sides who had come to Santa Fe throughout the decades expecting to roll over the Sabalero. But the likes of Boca Juniors, River Plate and even the Santos of Pele had come a cropper in the heat and intensity of the intimidating stadium. Four years ago, it was Argentina themselves who would become the latest giants to fall to the pressure. 

An early goal from Diego Perez was cancelled out rapidly by Gonzalo Higuain. Red cards for Javier Mascherano and Perez then reduced both sides to 10 men, while revealing a match which favoured physical brutality over talent and tactical nous. This played right into the hands of the visitors, never shy to throw their weight around on the pitch. 

After the early barrage of goals, 100 minutes were played without any side managing to break the deadlock. The mood in the Elephants' Graveyard slowly shifted. From raucous optimism, the home terraces were struck with nerves and trepidation. In the Uruguay end, meanwhile, confidence seemed to grow with the passing of every minute. Perhaps it has only become evident thanks to the benefit of hindsight; but the feeling was there that if the Celeste could complete extra time, the shootout would fall their way. 

That is exactly what happened. With nerves of steel, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez, Andres Scotti, Walter Gargano and Martin Caceres all slotted home from the spot. Messi, Nicolas Burdisso, Javier Pastore and Higuain did likewise for the hosts. But on Argentina's third penalty, Tevez, included in the squad thanks to immense pressure from the media and local authorities, blasted to the right only to see the sprightly Fernando Muslera guess correctly and throw his whole body behind the shot. Uruguay went on to win the Copa; for Sergio Batista's men, meanwhile, there was only disappointment and humiliation. 

Tuesday's clash in Group B does not bring with it the same life-or-death urgency. Even if Argentina go down to their neighbours, a victory against Jamaica in the final game would probably be enough to send Gerardo Martino's men to the quarters as a third-placed team. 

But Martino and his charges will know that the game is vital. Uruguay will have seen how Paraguay frustrated the favourites, taking advantage of a lacklustre second half to rescue an almost inconceivable point from 2-0 down. Coach Tabarez will play a very similar game, hitting hard in the middle and looking to stretch the Albiceleste down those vulnerable flanks. 

With Atletico Madrid pair Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez marshaling the defence, meanwhile, Argentina's dangerous offensive trident of Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria will have to work even harder for space. But Martino must not panic; the trio functioned strongly at least for the opening hour in the curtain-raiser, and any changes at this point would only be to the detriment of the team. 

Messi in particular has been on a mission to break curses in international colours over the last 12 months. Criticised for his failure to hit the net in the 2010 World Cup, in Brazil the genius No. 10 made sure to atone by top-scoring for his team. Likewise here in Chile; having gone four Copa America matches without goals in the last edition, La Pulga broke that disappointing run with just 35 minutes of the current tournament behind him. That spirit of revenge and making amends needs to reach every member of the squad. 

The tie against Ramon Diaz's Paraguay was a stumble, not a fall for Argentina. The World Cup finalists should maintain confidence in their game. But another mistake is simply not an option. The ghosts of 2011 must be exorcised. This Copa America is well within the nation's reach, but the revival has to begin on Tuesday with a commanding victory and revenge against the current holders.