The indomitable light became flesh in this Argentine team that four years ago and in a America Cuplike now, made the Topo Gigio gesture to demand better conditions: salary, training and a competitive calendar. They wanted to think about playing football and nothing else, that which seems so simple and was a utopia. Rarely is a result the conjunction of so many factors and so dissimilar. The win against Uruguay It is the expression that this group of soccer players cannot be tamed in their passions. The overwhelming 5-0 draw -and the celebration of the players who came out of the locker room dancing cumbia- is truly the consolidation of a process that has three words, at least, that sum it up: soccer, fight and work.

The first aspect, in fact, is still under construction, although last night, in Armenia, it worked perfectly. Mariana Larroquette He had said in the previous one that Argentina had had a great stage in women’s soccer in 2006, when it had conquered the South American Cup -today Copa América- in Mar del Plata and that that impulse had been wasted. That today the selections of the region grow a little more than Argentina and that it was necessary to pay more attention to the youth.

History confirms that even without opportunities or visibility, wearing the clothes that men discarded, they continued. Now they lived the change that they themselves pushed. With unprecedented preparation, they arrived here healing group wounds that left some internal conflicts. Like the one that involved leaving Stephanie Baninithree years out for expressing that Argentina needed a change in technical leadership.

The soccer lexicon on the field of play is worked on. Yesterday, in the first half, Argentina had to unblock a complex game in which Uruguay bet on strong legs, friction, and conditioning their rival’s skillful attack. The answer was in Germán Portanova’s manual of style: look for protagonism, bet on the short game and societies, circulate the ball at ground level.

When he got it, Argentina hurt. The advantage came thanks to the hierarchy of Banini, who stood in the area and dressed as a center forward, dominated an aerial ball with her body, turned and opened the account. It was the contribution of serenity that the National Team needed, before the break. And his own personal mini-rematch (one more and counting): he equaled Marisol Medina as the top scorer in Copa America history.

The range of good news that gives the win includes society Yamila Rodriguez-Banini. With resources learned in the paddocks of red earth in Misiones and in indoor soccer in Mendoza, they repeated what they did against Peru: the second goal – a wall to keep in a square – after a perfect counterattack It is the summary of the Argentine DNA: heart, short passes and kindness. Rodríguez, who this month improved his speed and gave his game a tireless run down the right flank, made temperamental decisions to baste a hat trick: good looks, speed, cunning and cold mind in the area will be the lines that will appear in the memories of this wing, at this point one of the scorers of the Copa América.

“I never imagined this, but it always happens to me that I have dreams to fulfill and they come true. To the little Yami who left Posadas and came to Buenos Aires I say thank you because she liked soccer. Thanks to my brothers for giving me a ball and always running after it. Yami grew up a lot and she achieved all that thanks to them, ”she said as she left the locker room, euphoric and also emotional, hugging the ball that she won as a prize.

The previous invited to imagine a more even classic. Portanova said it at the press conference: “We didn’t expect such a lofty result, we have a lot of respect for the rival. The truth is, we thought we were going to have a match more similar to the first half”.

But not. In the second Argentina overwhelmed. He showed physical differences, in speed and against, and also -and here is the key- he prevailed technically in one against one. Dexterity, ability and waist break killed strong leg.

After hearing very critical questions after the defeat against Brazil, Portanova this time had to repeat the word “measure” almost on a national chain. He resorted to the old uses and customs of soccer, when he declared: “If against Brazil we were not the worst, now we are not the best. Caution should be taken with these results. If we get discouraged in defeats, we don’t have to believe in victories either.”

Your job these days will be to print moderation. Meanwhile, Argentina has been condensed in these three points (which add up to 6 in the Group B standings) some positive news. Namely:

● Nine goals scored in two games that could be decisive in a defining situation due to goal difference.

● The clean sheet against Peru and also yesterday, something that had not happened since 2014.

● The streak against Uruguay, against whom he played five games in the Copa América and won them all (in the general history he has 15 wins and only one loss).

● You will now have five days off before defining your placement in the group: the Thursday at 7:00 p.m., Argentina timehe will face Venezuela and then he will decide where he is. If he manages to get to the semifinals, he will fight for a direct ticket to the 2023 World Cup, If not, he should seek to get into the playoffs.

In Argentina, meanwhile, they pray for them.