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.

梅西神出鬼没，从比赛开球的那刻，他便有意吸引对方后卫，惊拢对方，有四次曾拖累对方四名后卫对其围追堵截。狡诈的梅西，左突右击，扯乱对手，伺机摆脱。由于老马在部署防御时只留一个中场，所以梅西除要飞奔前袭之外，还得注意回防，无论是堵截还是抢断，皮球在他的脚下，无不玩转地有声有色，超凡脱俗。

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.

中场的控制，对阿根廷来说，意义重大；正是这个关键部位，在如此这般的大赛之中，首番亮相，举足轻重，不必言说，需要耗费十倍的精力，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.

当然，小组的形势比较严峻。然而，阿根廷做得，只能是有过之而无不及，因为他们的巧妙安排，一目了然。中场的传球和相互照应，锋线上的风起云落，无不令人销魂。在中场有了他，便可穿针引线，前后缝源，普天同庆如胶似漆般被他玩弄于左脚之下。这就是梅西，一个神奇的小子，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.

在本届杯赛上，他就是要卓越超群。这次是他展现才华的唯一。他天赋过人，玩得如此飘逸，活脱脱的一个老马。他就是老马，在他的身上，我们看到了在别人身上所看不到的过人洞察力。他就是老马，一有机会，便能捕捉战机，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.

这是在左翼，距离球场尽端的角区50码，他撞开一条血路，一路奔袭，活脱脱的一个老马。惊心动魄，一点不失老马昔日大师风范。