20 January 2011

taco (n)

1. (Méx) A delicious Mexican snack.

2. (Rioplatense) A tango move in which the dancer takes a step directly backwards.

3. (Rioplatense) A fútbol move in which a player, evoking the grace of a tango dancer, flicks the ball with the heel of his boot, thus surprising opposition players and creating unexpected attacking situations or goals.

Here are five 'tacos' we like (of the footballing kind)...

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1. Diego Milito

Diego Milito is an elegant Argentinian striker, and is therefore more than comfortable with the occasional deft backheel. Here he provides an assist for countryman Javier Zanetti in the World Club Cup Semi Final against Seongnam.

2. Ezequiel Lavezzi

A delightful taco here from Lavezzi against the old enemy Brazil means that Messi has to do little more than tap it in and lap up all the glory.

3. Gonzalo Higuain

This makes the list because it's about as ugly a backflick goal as you're likely to see. Rather than a tango step, a mulleted(?) Gonzalo Higuain slays Boca Juniors with a move that could have come from the drunken dancefloor of a Cumbia club in the Conurbano bonaerense.

4. Gabriel Hauche

Racing's Hauche shows why he's nicknamed "Demonio" by combining strength, balance, composure and skill to ride a heavy tackle in the area then flick home against Gimnasia de La Plata in the Apertura just gone.

THE QUINTESSENTIAL: Carlos Tevez

English commentator Alan Parry is probably not much of a tango aficionado. His first reaction to this sublime Tevez effort for Manchester United is to cry, "Oh, it's a freak goal and the goalkeeper should have done better..." perhaps not believing that the Argentinian could be capable of such skill. A few replays later and his co-commentator is in little doubt that Tevez knew exactly what he was doing; a footballing dance straight out of South America.