Gabriel Batistuta had a superb season at Boca Juniors, scoring 13 goals in 30 league games. Batistuta was an extremely dominant figure in the Copa Libertadores as well, scoring 6 goals in 10 games. Boca Juniors came close to winning the Copa Libertadores but lost in the semi-final against Colo-Colo (later winner of the tournament).

Batistuta’s way of playing was heavily inspired by Mario Kempes. Gabriel was picked up by Marcelo Bielsa´s Newell´s Old Boys after scoring two goals against Bielsa´s team. Batistuta said: “the one who taught me how to train on rainy days, he taught me everything” about his time under the guidance of Bielsa.

A young Marcelo Bielsa found a future superstar in Batistuta.

River Plate would later pick up Batistuta, but he wasn´t that successful with them. Passarella said at that time “when Batistuta finds a team that be able to play to him he will be lethal”. Batistuta would then have his successful season with Boca Juniors, his favourite team. Batistuta would have all eyes on him when Argentina played in the upcoming Copa America.

Beloved by Boca Juniors fans

Argentina had a new man in charge after eight years of Carlos Bilardo with great success because of a certain player. The new man was Alfio Basile and he was quite the outsider for the job. Basile was a different kind of a coach in comparison to Bilardo. Basile played in a much more aggressive and offensive style. Bilardo was more about the disciplined style and heavily forcing their star player Diego Maradona to create things on his own. Basile built the team from the basics. There were so many new players on the team. The newcomers were Dario Franco, Nestor Craviotto, Claudio Garcia, Leonardo Astrada and Diego Simeone. The fundamentals of the team in Copa America were based around the heroes of Argentina´s World Cup 1990 with the likes of the goalkeeper Sergio Goyoechea, defender Oscar Ruggeri and winger Claudio Caniggia. Alfio Basile had to experience the worst loss possible after Diego Maradona was suspended just months earlier for a failing a Drug Test in the Italian Serie A because of cocaine. Even if Maradona hadn´t failed his Drug Test would it still be doubtful that he would participate at the Copa America. With Maradona out because of different difficulties Basile had the job to find a new captain and the choice was Oscar Ruggeri. Argentina´s squad at the Copa America only had two foreign-based players: Claudio Caniggia (Atalanta) and Diego Simeone (Pisa). The absence of Diego Maradona made space from another Diego to be the star of the team in Diego Latorre. Diego Latorre was already compared to Diego Maradona and had a great partnership with Batistuta at Boca Juniors. Diego Latorre already had an agreement before the tournament with Fiorentina.

Diego Latorre was called the new Maradona.

Argentina´s first game of the Copa America was against Venezuela. Argentina was missing Carlos Enrique because he was sent off in a friendly against Brazil just before the Copa America. The game against Brazil was also the debut for Gabriel Batistuta. The game against Venezuela was a dominant performance for Argentina. This game was a breakthrough for the new star for Argentina in Batistuta. Gabriel Batistuta made it to 1-0 in the 28th minute after a free kick situation when Batistuta came first to tap in. This was Gabriel Batistuta first goal for Argentina. Argentina scored the second goal in the 43rd minute after a Claudio Caniggia header. The last goal was scored by Batistuta with a penalty. The penalty was awarded after Diego Latorre kicked the ball onto a Venezuelan player hand. Diego Latorre had a disappointing game with the hype around him. Basile would go out after the game and say, “that Diego Latorre was exhausted after a long season”. Diego Latorre would late in the game ask to be sub out and was replaced by Leonardo Adrián Rodríguez. Rodríguez would be the surprise of the tournament with Batistuta. Gabriel Batistuta had already got the attraction from Hellas Verona.

The second game for Argentina was against Chile. The game was close to the very end until Batigol became the hero for Argentina. Batistuta scored in the 81st minute after running by a defender and scored from a difficult position. This was the beginning of Batigol, a beautiful goal to define Batigol’s amazing campaign in this tournament. Diego Latorre had another bad game and was subbed out. Diego Latorre would not start for the rest of the tournament.

Batigol wonderful goal against Chile

The third game of the group was against Paraguay. This would be a masterpiece of a performance by Argentina. Argentina would have Carlos Enrique back in defence and Leonardo Rodríguez started. Caniggia and Rodríguez would be involved in every goal of this game. Gabriel Batistuta would open the party after a brilliant finish just outside the box in the 40th minute. The second goal was scored by Diego Simeone in the 61st. The game ended 4-1 to Argentina with the last goal from Claudio Caniggia. This goal was a perfect ending for Claudio Caniggia after an amazing performance.

The passion showed by the Argentinian.

Argentina was the first team that was qualified for the final group stage. Argentina had one game left in the group and it was against Peru. Argentina played the bench players and Diego Latorre got the chance to be the captain of the team because of the absence of Ruggeri. Argentina won the game 3-2 against Peru. Diego Latorre scored in this game, but the performance wasn´t really impressive.

Argentina was joined in the final group stage with Brazil, Colombia and the host Chile. The final group stage was all played on Estadio Nacional de Chile. This, in my opinion, was a very interesting concept and is pretty special compared to their tournament system now.

The final group stage

The first game of the final group stage was Argentina against Brazil. Both teams had bad blood after a violent friendly just before the Copa America and this game would be no different. This game would have five players sent offs. The first goal of the game happened barely 40 seconds into the game and was the fastest goal of the tournament. Dario Franco scored the first goal on a header and was assisted by Leonardo Rodríguez. Leonardo Rodríguez would have another amazing performance, creating all 3 goals of the game. Brazil equalized in the 6th minute after Branco scored another free kick. Branco was very well known for his free kicks at Porto and Genoa. Claudio Caniggia and Iomar Mazinho were sent off in the 31st minute. Caniggia and Mazinho got both red card for less to what Messi got red against Chile in this Copa America if we compare.

Canigga´s red card

Dario Franco scored his second header of the game and Rodriguez assisted him again in the 40th minute. Leonardo Rodríguez made his third assist and this time was it to Batigol in the 46th minute (this was also header like the two other goals). This was Batistuta fifth goal of the tournament. Joao Paulo scored the last goal of the game in the 53rd minute. Marcio Santos and Carlos Enrique were given red cards in the 61st minute. Carlos Enrique stepped on Marcio Santos head after Marcio Santos made a very dangerous tackle. Careca Bianchezi was the last player to be sent off after punching Oscar Ruggeri in the 77th minute. The game was very physical and had the feeling of a “Battle of the South Americans”. There was a conspiracy theory that Conmebol wanted players sent off so Chile could have an easier path to win. The reason why was because Chile was banned from the World Cup qualifiers because of the “Roberto Rojas scandal” or “El Maracanazo” as the Chilean called it. Conmebol wanted Chile to participate in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. They thought that Chile could participate if they won the Copa America. This resulted in (remember just a theory) that Conmebol President, the Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz had given instructions to Paraguayan Referee Carlos Maciel. According to Oscar Ruggeri, Maciel had said that he had received instructions from above. Maciel denied these claims. Overall Caniggia and Mazinho were suspended for one match and Carlos Enrique for three matches.

Highlights of the game between Argentina vs Brazil (3-2)

Argentina’s next game was against Chile on the 19th of July. The match was played under heavy rain. Alfio Basile said after the game that “it closer to water polo than football”. The game was a boring affair and ended it goalless. This result served Batistuta and Argentina better because they only needed a win against Colombia to win the tournament. Argentina´s way of playing this game was very conservative from my point of view.

Closer to water polo than football – Alfio Basile

Argentina last game of the tournament was against Colombia after Chile and Brazil had played. Argentina was 1 point behind Brazil before their game. The game lost all suspense just 20 minutes in. Argentina tactics this game was attack, attack and attack. Basile knew that Colombia was the weakest side in the group. The first goal of the game happened in the 11th minute. The goalscorer was no other than Diego Simeone with a header. Just 8 minutes later Batigol would double the lead after a brilliant finish. Batistuta celebrated the goal in true Bati fashion with superb passion. Batistuta could crown himself as the top score of the Copa America with 6 goals. Anthony de Avila pulled one goal back for Colombia in the 70th minute. Argentina had complete control of the game in my opinion.

Oscar Ruggeri and Alfio Basile with the trophy

Argentina played in a beautiful fast-paced way which is quite attractive, and this without Maradona. It was actually quite fascinating seeing Maradona adapt to this system at the World Cup in 1994 (though it wasn´t prime Maradona). Oscar Ruggeri would join a special group that have won both the World Cup and Copa America. Argentina fully deserved to win the tournament and collected 13 out of 14 points.

All of Batistuta´s goal in Copa America 1991

This was Argentina first Copa America since 1959. Argentina got some fresh air after playing extremely defensive football for over a decade. They were interesting and very successful by using offensive football. Batistuta was a newborn star after this tournament. Batistuta would join Fiorentina after this tournament. His teammate at Boca, Diego Latorre would stay another year at Boca after a bad campaign. Latorre would not end up being the star people thought he would be, but Batistuta instead surprised everyone (even Marcelo Bielsa)to become one of the best strikers in the 90s. Fiorentina had not known Batistuta before the tournament, but their colourful owner Cecchi Gori watched the games at the pool in Miami. He loved the way he celebrated when Bati would score. The purchase of Batigol was without other influence than Gori´s. The other star of the team was Leonardo Rodríguez and he got sold to Bernard Tapie’s Olympique Marseille but was loaned out to Toulon. Leonardo Rodríguez was the player of the tournament.

And we all know how good Batigol would become