At the 1990 World Cup in Italy, Diego Armando Maradona, then Argentina's star player, achieved the kind of feat media spin doctors can only dream about. He effectively persuaded large chunks of the 80,000 strong crowd at Naples's San Paolo stadium not to back the host nation in its semifinal clash against Argentina. Whereas, until that point Italy's march through the World Cup had taken place in front of raucous home support, the Argentina match took place in a muted, almost respectfulatmosphere. And when Italy went down on penalty kicks, many got the sense that parts of the crowd might well have been secretlydelighted that it was Mr. Maradona's team that had advanced to the final.

Chalk it up to Mr. Maradona's knack for portraying himself as the 'people's champion.' In 1990, he made a direct appeal to the Neapolitan fans, reminding them that their hard-luck city was often neglected and marginalized in Italian society and that they had no duty to cheer on a country (Italy) which demanded support but gave them little in return. Of course, the fact that Mr. Maradona played his club football in Naples at the time and was immensely popular among local fans gave his gambit greater credibility. But it's hard to imagine too many other figures in world football with the guts to take such a bold step, much less to pull it off.

Yet when it comes to popular (and populist) appeal, some folks just have 'it.' Just as Sarah Palin's popularity in certain quarters remains a mystery to some in the mainstream media, so too does Mr. Maradona's knack for resonating with 'the people.'

At the World Cup, he seems to be fashioning himself as the most 'African' of non-Africans. He makes it a point to lavish praise on everything from South African fans to the organizing committee to the city of Pretoria ('One of the most beautiful in the world'). And he freely casts himself as defender of the host nation against those who doubted whether it could organize a competition like the World Cup, channelling some Barack Obama along the way: 'Today South Africa answers [the sceptics] 'yes, it can!'' he said on Friday. Short of wearing a Bafana Bafana jersey and blaring a vuvuzela, he could not be more of a cheerleader for the host nation.

Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the local media adore him. And even their international colleagues, until now so eager to outline his failings -- personal, tactical and managerial -- are slowly coming around. Those who feared that Mr. Maradona's outsized personality and quick temper (this is the man who, after all, was suspended for two months by FIFA for a foul-mouthed and abusive rant at reporters last fall) might lead to dissent in the Argentine ranks have thus far been proved wrong.

Mr. Maradona's team looked at once loose and determined in its 1-0 win over Nigeria on Saturday. The tight scoreline shouldn't mislead. But for some outstanding saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and some horrific finishing from Gonzalo Higuain and Lionel Messi (who, to be fair, was brilliant in every other sense), Argentina could have easily scored four or five. What's more it was entertaining and dominant, in a way which is sure to seduce the neutral.

Of course, there were also plenty of holes to be picked. Mr. Maradona's 3-4-3 formation, with Jonas Gutierrez doing double-duty as rightback, when Nigeria had possession, and winger, when Argentina was attacking, looked shaky. (To be fair, this kind of 'flex' 3-4-3 scheme is extremely sophisticated and requires a specialist to make it work. Mr. Gutierrez, normally a winger at club level, is probably in over his head.) Martin Demichelis looked a bit sluggish at the back and in midfield, Juan Sebastian Veron's 35-year-old legs looked heavy by the second half. But compared to the largely justified criticism Mr. Maradona was receiving for his team selection and tactics a few months ago, it's minor stuff.

Besides, as long as Argentina keeps winning the team's tactical imperfections will matter little to the rank-and-file fan and even less so to the neutrals. If there is a parallel 'hearts and minds' competition at this World Cup -- the kind which Brazil usually triumphs in -- the way things are going, Mr. Maradona seems to be in pole position right now.

Gabriele Marcotti

• player [´pleiə] n.游戏的人；选手 (初中英语单词)
• whereas [weər´æz] conj.鉴于；因此；而 (初中英语单词)
• atmosphere [´ætməsfiə] n.大气；空气；气氛 (初中英语单词)
• advanced [əd´vɑ:nst] a.先进的；高级的 (初中英语单词)
• italian [i´tæliən] a.意大利 n.意大利人 (初中英语单词)
• mystery [´mistəri] n.神秘；秘密；故弄玄虚 (初中英语单词)
• freely [´fri:li] ad.自由地；慷慨地 (初中英语单词)
• organize [´ɔ:gənaiz] v.组织；编组；建立 (初中英语单词)
• competition [,kɔmpi´tiʃən] n.比赛；竞争 (初中英语单词)
• jersey [´dʒə:zi] n.毛织运动衫；毛线衫 (初中英语单词)
• international [,intə´næʃənəl] a.国际的，世界的 (初中英语单词)
• outline [´autlain] n.外形 vt.画出...轮廓 (初中英语单词)
• personality [,pə:sə´næliti] n.人；个性；人品；人物 (初中英语单词)
• temper [´tempə] n.韧度 v.锻炼；调和 (初中英语单词)
• brilliant [´briliənt] a.灿烂的；杰出的 (初中英语单词)
• scheme [ski:m] n.计划；阴谋，诡计 (初中英语单词)
• extremely [ik´stri:mli] ad.极端地；非常地 (初中英语单词)
• criticism [´kritisizəm] n.批评；评论(文) (初中英语单词)
• parallel [´pærəlel] a.平行的 n.平行线 (初中英语单词)
• penalty [´penlti] n.刑罚；惩罚；障碍 (高中英语单词)
• secretly [´si:kritli] ad.秘密地；隐蔽地 (高中英语单词)
• appeal [ə´pi:l] vi.&n.请求；呼吁；上诉 (高中英语单词)
• popularity [,pɔpju´læriti] n.普及；流行；名望 (高中英语单词)
• outstanding [aut´stændiŋ] a.突出的；显著的 (高中英语单词)
• formation [fɔ:´meiʃən] n.形成；构成；排列 (高中英语单词)
• selection [si´lekʃən] n.选择；选拔；精选物 (高中英语单词)
• brazil [brə´zil] n.巴西 (高中英语单词)
• argentina [,ɑ:dʒən´ti:nə] n.阿根廷 (英语四级单词)
• delighted [di´laitid] a.高兴的；喜欢的 (英语四级单词)
• naples [´neiplz] n.那不勒斯 (英语四级单词)
• immensely [i´mensli] ad.极大地，无限地 (英语四级单词)
• lavish [´læviʃ] a.慷慨的；浪费的 (英语四级单词)
• defender [di´fendə] n.保卫者；辩护者 (英语四级单词)
• argentine [´ɑ:dʒəntain] n.&a.阿根廷人(的) (英语四级单词)
• dominant [´dɔminənt] a.统治的；占优势的 (英语四级单词)
• specialist [´speʃəlist] n.专家 (英语四级单词)
• tactics [´tæktiks] n.策略；战术 (英语四级单词)
• winning [´winiŋ] n.&a.胜利(的) (英语四级单词)
• effectively [i´fektivli] ad.有效地 (英语六级单词)
• respectful [ri´spektfəl] a.恭敬的；尊敬人的 (英语六级单词)
• dissent [di´sent] vi.不同意；表异议 (英语六级单词)
• normally [´nɔ:məli] ad.正常情况下；通常 (英语六级单词)
• sluggish [´slʌgiʃ] a.呆滞的；偷懒的 (英语六级单词)