Messi was difficult to mark, deliberately showing how dangerous he was from the start by taking on four defenders inside four minutes, cunningly dragging players who followed him out of position. And because Diego played only one defensive midfielder, Messi tracked back and defended, even showing his brilliance in tackling and winning the ball back.

梅西神出鬼沒，從比賽開球的那刻，他便有意吸引對方后衛，驚攏對方，有四次曾拖累對方四名后衛對其圍追堵截。狡詐的梅西，左突右擊，扯亂對手，伺機擺脫。由于老馬在部署防御時只留一個中場，所以梅西除要飛奔前襲之外，還得注意回防，無論是堵截還是搶斷，皮球在他的腳下，無不玩轉地有聲有色，超凡脫俗。

The possession for Argentina’s midfield was huge; very, very positive in principle for an opening game in a tournament like this, where you want momentum to build.

中場的控制，對阿根廷來說，意義重大；正是這個關鍵部位，在如此這般的大賽之中，首番亮相，舉足輕重，不必言說，需要耗費十倍的精力，小心部署。

There will be tougher fixtures, of course, but Argentina can be much better than this because there are clearly things to build on. The passing and interplay in midfield and up front was a delight. And in the centre of it all, pulling the strings, the Jabulani glued to his left foot, Messi the wonderboy, still only 22.

當然，小組的形勢比較嚴峻。然而，阿根廷做得，只能是有過之而無不及，因為他們的巧妙安排，一目了然。中場的傳球和相互照應，鋒線上的風起云落，無不令人銷魂。在中場有了他，便可穿針引線，前后縫源，普天同慶如膠似漆般被他玩弄于左腳之下。這就是梅西，一個神奇的小子，年方22的才俊。

He’ll strain every sinew at this World Cup. And this was only a stretch. He plays so easily, just like Maradona. I saw Maradona in him in the way he suddenly sees spaces others cannot see, and as Diego did with an opportunity, he seizes it, goes at you, and you are a dead man.

在本屆杯賽上，他就是要卓越超群。這次是他展現才華的唯一。他天賦過人，玩得如此飄逸，活脫脫的一個老馬。他就是老馬，在他的身上，我們看到了在別人身上所看不到的過人洞察力。他就是老馬，一有機會，便能捕捉戰機，充分地利用它。啊，我快不行了。

There was one 50-yard run which ended in a corner, all left-sided, which was Diego in mirror-image. It won’t have been lost on the old master, either.

這是在左翼，距離球場盡端的角區50碼，他撞開一條血路，一路奔襲，活脫脫的一個老馬。驚心動魄，一點不失老馬昔日大師風范。