The Pumas were once again caught out for their mistakes and bid farewell to the Rugby World Cup

it did not arrive. The bronze medal went to England and there was no revenge. The Pumas were on the verge of making it happen and they fought to the end. But their effort was not enough and they fell 26-23. In this match, the players reached the maximum third place in the 2023 World Cup in France. Matthew Carreras He played with his right leg completely covered in bandages – just like Matías Morrone when he came in -, Juan Cruz financially He had protection on one hand due to the breakage that occurred in at least two games and the analgesic tapes that Lautaro Bazan Velez Several companions looked at his feet repeatedly. Sample, in the postcards, that the Argentines’ gifting was extraordinary. In that sense, they left nothing hanging. Nothing to blame.

Another photo of the last minutes at the Stade de France. Malia added another level of difficulty to the ailments already caused by what had been a grueling tournament. The full-back ended up on one leg and had to be treated for pain in his right thigh, which caused him to fall to the ground. They bandaged him and moved with difficulty, but he complied until the last second. Like his comrades.

but, Michael Cheika’s side return to Argentina without the consolation they were seeking. Without a final and without a podium. However, Los Pumas are once again among the top four clubs on the planet. This is not little. Before the World Cup, in Japan 2019, the national team did not make it out of the group stage. The starting point for Australia 2027 has another colour.

The score clearly reflects defeat, but the distance on the scoreboard shows the tools that Argentina were able to display. This, basically, has not left the game and it shows Mental toughness, the great achievement of an era of the Australian coach that, if there are no surprises, has just ended.

But that will be an analysis for another time. Mateo Carreras’ first reaction was to run off the field. 80 intense minutes and despite the discomfort in his leg, he was unable to overcome his impotence. None of their teammates collapsed to the ground: judging by what they did on the field, they faced defeat on their feet. Then the man from Tucuman returned to his people.

The joy was evident in the United Kingdom, and here in Saint Denis there were no signs of this kind. There were few Englishmen on the field and third place did not spark jubilant celebration. The number of Argentines who remained, despite the cold, was greater than the number of Argentines who remained in La Rosa. Already in the game you can see this trend among the audience.

Among the 77,674 spectators, there were a handful of Argentines, a few Englishmen and several Frenchmen who mostly supported Los Pumas. The match was at 11 degrees at night in Saint-Denis, the coldest so far in the World Cup. Moreover, this time, the DJ on duty was weak. To raise people’s level he chose the queen often. Musical feud? I hope the rabid Chacarera dominates the next World Cup.

Tomas Cubelli’s attempt brightened things up a bit, as Argentina were able to go into the first half a little closer to the score (10-16) to make the second half more attractive.

Santiago Carreras scored a try with a brilliant stack to shake off the weight of controversy surrounding his role in the team as a fly-half, which also put Argentina ahead on the scoreboard. The sigh of relief continued: In the next intervention, the Argentinian number 10’s kick was blocked by Theo Dunne and it went straight into the goal.

This was the first circumstance that began to affect the morale of Los Pumas, and in turn contributed to England’s victory: the mistakes of the Argentine team that resurfaced. The Pumas played a better game – much better – than the first match against England in Marseille, but with a carelessness that seemed to be refined and gradually disappeared in the matches that followed.

The second circumstance that marked the defeat was the first mistake committed by Nicolas Sanchez against Forest in the World Cup. Had the penalty kick been successful, when Los Pumas were in riot, the score would have been level. That could have become a challenge for the Argentines and a complexity for the English, who should have risked a little more instead of showing their stingy game in the final seconds to put a lock on the bronze medal.

But assumptions don’t count. When there was still time for the miracle, Chica went down to the field and talked to the man from Tucuman who was clearly beaten. After England’s medal ceremony, which most of the Argentine players watched from the bench, the coach walked around the field to greet the crowd and the English players, who were doing the same in the opposite direction.

The momentum with which the game was played is no longer there. Even Mateo Carreras -Carretas- was on several occasions on the border with several rivals, and allowed himself to be greeted affectionately. Some changed their shirts and several Englishmen approached Pablo MateraHe wears the suit and crutches that have accompanied him for nearly three weeks.

After the salute, Los Pumas left the field. These 33 met in the locker room for the last time, and there will be another roster at the next World Cup, and perhaps some survivors who will try to prevent the fire of fourth place from going out.

Little by little, the World Cup is ending. This time the crowd left quickly, the music played softly and the evening quickly calmed down. Only the lights that made the stadium larger remained on. Only the noise of machines smoothing the grass and the presence of volunteers waiting for the last journalist to leave has kept alive the Stade de France, which has only one last function left.

The theater was nearly full on Friday, but without a soul. Perhaps he will get it back on Saturday when the champion, or rather the four-time champion, will be determined. It would be for the All Blacks or Springboks. But that would be another story.