FIFA World Cup

At the two full-fledged practice sessions they have had here since arrival, and at the warm-up before Friday's Fifa friendly, Argentina have had that little cat-and-mouse session at the centre-circle. Three players chase the ball while those on the ring try to ensure they don't get to intercept.

It's a delightful little session to sharpen close control and passing under pressure. Short passes along the ground and, if those roads are blocked, over the heads with a chip or a dab. It's a session so full of the flaunting of skills. It's so quintessentially Argentine.

It's as if it's an orchestra piece that they rehearse one last time before the big show. Against Venezuela at the Salt Lake stadium, pregnant with the promise of the first signs of an Argentine rebirth, it all slipped out of tune every now and then. There was even a clear and present danger of Venezuela, who have lost all 17 matches to their famous South American counterparts, actually making history - till Nicolas Otamendi nodded in the only goal of the match in the 67th minute.

But, then, for a nation so obsessed with just one man, it was 'paisa vasool' from the kick-off to the final whistle. Lionel Messi was at his sublime best, feigning, passing, shooting and finally setting up the goal in telling fashion.

Messi, the fountainhead of every promising Argentine move, received the ball with that telling first touch, sent in that left-footer in the blink of an eye. Rafael Romo dived for another of his many saves, but for Messi the move wasn't finished yet. His corner - he took every corner and freekick this day - found Otamendi with telling precision, the defender doing well to twist his torso to find the direction even as he headed the ball into the ground to fox the goalkeeper.

Quintessentially Argentine again!

Amidst the roar of 85,000, did the collective sigh of relief get drowned! As it had been evident over the past few days, no one wanted a departure from the script they had written for themselves. Not even for witnessing a piece of history by their opponents. Messi was on the ball from the first whistle, and it's a shame that many spectators, caught in the long queues at the outer gates of the stadium, missed the early touches.

For quite some time, Venezuela almost seemed resigned to their designated role as second fiddle.

But there were the early signs that they wouldn't be cowered into submission - the quick breaks, the crosses that almost were, the stubborn defending...