Scaloneta: In Review of a Journey

*美国南方出版社让中文出版走向世界舞台*

【内容简介】Haiqing Sun's documentary novel traces Argentina's remarkable football journey under coach Lionel Scaloni, culminating in their 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph. Blending reportage, interviews, and narrative storytelling, the book explores how a young and relatively inexperienced coaching staff rebuilt a fractured national team into a united force that captured the hearts of millions. 

Through firsthand accounts from Scaloni, Messi, De Paul, Dybala, and others, the story recounts moments of doubt, tactical evolution, and resilience-from early setbacks and media skepticism to historic victories in the Copa América, the Finalísima, and ultimately the World Cup. Alongside the sporting narrative, the book captures the cultural, emotional, and social dimensions of Argentine football, from childhood dreams in small towns like Pujato to nationwide celebrations that brought five million people into the streets of Buenos Aires. 

The text is not only a chronicle of matches and strategies but also a meditation on leadership, teamwork, and identity. It reveals how "La Scaloneta" became more than a nickname for a squad: it symbolized hope, unity, and the rediscovery of joy in football. Ending with Argentina's continued success and the reflections of players and coaches, the book presents a portrait of a legendary era that transcends sport to become part of Argentina's collective memory.

1. Introduction（内容节选）

It was 2pm on December 19^th, 2022.  Professor Camilo Rubbini showed up punctually for his Economics class at Barnard College in New York City.

-- Good afternoon! Everyone!

He smiled and continued with a louder voice than usual:

-- You know, yesterday, Argentina won the World Cup! This is a great honor for my country!

Students started to applaud while a girl in the back of the classroom raised her hand and said above the din:

--I’m so glad for you and your country, professor! So, for any answer to a final exam question that we might not know, can we get partial credit if we write “Vamos Argentina”?

I heard this anecdote from Carlos, Camilo’s friend.        

Carlos:

Now that I think about it, this was not the first time that my friend Camilo had to teach right after a World Cup final. Back in 2014, he was teaching summer courses in Guangzhou (China) and had to go to class just a few hours after the final ... That time, of course, his story was quite different.

…

In November 2022, the early summer season of South America, Professor Fan and I of Peking University were doing research as visiting scholars in Buenos Aires, where we also attended an academic conference on Hispanic literature. A few weeks later, when Argentina won the FIFA World Cup, the entire city was flooded with joyful hustle and bustle, there was a festive atmosphere in every single corner. As young students at Peking University about 30 years ago, the two of us used to join our schoolmates and fanatically watch football World Cups. By now the middle-aged us were engaged in teaching and research for a long time, and we didn’t expect the passion and madness of football in this country would deeply infect us again.

At that conference, we met our old friend Carlos, a senior professor from Buenos Aires. Because of similar research fields and constant exchanges of ideas, we decided to work jointly on a research project in Latin American narratives. The day before the end of the semester, the three of us gathered in a cafe to talk about our summer plans. Carlos, who was immersed in the joy of Argentina’s winning the Cup, told us that he’d soon return to his hometown for vacations, and would visit a town along the way, where his relatives lived, "an interesting place". Professor Fan and I inquired about it, and immediately on a whim, we put down our teacups and decided to take a surprise trip with him, taking advantage of the nice holidays…

That day, when the sky was already dark, the vehicle driven by Carlos took us down from Highway 33, following a car that also got off the highway, turned right at the first traffic light, and it didn’t take long before we stopped outside a courtyard at the corner of the street. Carlos didn't get out of the car, but turned to us and said, "It’s kind of late, maybe we should come back tomorrow?" But when we saw a young couple getting out of the car in front, we decided to get off too. As we walked closer, I saw there were quite a few people already waiting in the yard. A voice was heard asking, "Is he at home?”

-- The house is rather quaint, it must be post-colonial in style, right?

Professor Lao Fan looked attentively at the courtyard with thick walls and tiles, and the sturdy wooden double doors in front of him. At the time, we were only feeling excited, neither of us could have imagined that a longer journey of exploration would begin.

            …

That house was my parents' home; I was born and raised there. It was built on the street close to the national highway in our town and was very easy to find. Last Christmas holiday, I came back to visit my family; many people from near and far came to ask me for an autograph or to take a photo. After you guys left, more and more people came by, and my brother put tables and chairs outside. After I’d finished breakfast, I’d go out to sign and pose for pictures, and then go into the house for lunch, and take a nap, and then my brother would come in again to urge: There’s another line outside, go ahead. At the most, there were about 300 people in line. That's all I had for the last few days of the year 2022, and it was quite a pleasant experience.

 作者简介 

Haiqing Sun is a Professor of Spanish. She earned her BA from Peking University and her Ph.D. from University of Southern California

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