Buenos Aires, 9 July 2003. Argentinians are gathered not just to celebrate the 187th anniversary of the country’s independence, but another major landmark in their history. Despite a bout of wintry cold, the Monumental stadium is dressed up in party gear to pay tribute to the team that gave Argentina its first FIFA World Cup crown. Twenty-five years and 14 days have gone by since that fateful day, but in this atmosphere of nostalgia, former players - albeit lacking their physiques of old - have turned up alongside a host of current stars to commemorate the triumph that opened a new era for Argentinian football. FIFA.com made sure it was present at all strategic points in the stadium to bring you a minute-by-minute review of the afternoon’s celebration.

The journalists massed in the corridors of the Monumental stadium are on the hunt for scoops. Plenty of names have been circulating in the week running upto the game and everyone wants to know the line-up of the teams set to do battle on the pitch. News comes in via mobile phone that Ariel Ortega and Gabriel Batistuta, among others, will be the leaders of the current stars, while keeper Ubaldo Fillol will be one of the few of the class of ’78 to take part in the match. Many in the stands are disappointed by the news that Juan Román Riquelme, one of the biggest names to be invited, will not be coming to the party. Others like Daniel Passarella, Mario Kempes, Osvaldo Ardiles and Ricardo Lavolpe will be sorely missed for their absence due to prior commitments.

The crowd is building up gradually. With the last-minute postponement of the curtain-raiser due to be played between the Argentinian under-20 and under-17 sides (both of which are South American champions), the expectancy builds to fever pitch, with the crowd dying to see its real heroes take the field. The first batch of players enter the dressing room where they find various senior administrators waiting for them, headed up by the President of the Argentinian Football Association (AFA), Julio Grondona. “There were plenty of remarkable things about that tournament, like actually getting to the final, then our unforgettable victory. However, for me the biggest victory is that we’re all still alive 25 years on” he muses.

The first to arrive are two of the stars of Italia 90, Ricardo Giusti and Sergio Goycochea. The former winger underlines the “gratitude felt towards the boys of ‘78 who did so much for Argentinian football”. However, the “gringo”, as he was nicknamed, no longer looks ready to run as much as during his peak years; “it was easier in those days” he quips. As for “Goyco”, he now plies his trade far from the goal as a journalist. A few days after winning the Martín Fierro Prize for his work on a television programme, Goycochea apologises for not being able to take part in the match; “I was trying to make a save a couple of months ago and I tore some ligaments,” he said.

Héctor Enrique, a Mexico 86 winner, is another one moved by the event. “I admired and envied all the greats from that era. Luckily, I was able to experience a similar thing later on. Was it easier to beat Germany in the final than to get myself into shape for today? No contest... if I try to set off on a run today, the odds are I’ll just break down”, conceded the former midfield dynamo.

Little by little, the class of ’78 arrive and the emotion spreads. The arrivals of Ubaldo Fillol, Alberto Tarantini, Daniel Valencia, Omar Larrosa and company are greeted by a flurry of hugs, smiles and general mickey-taking about the state of each other’s physiques. An emotional Daniel Bertoni apologises for not being able to play; “They need me and Américo Gallego’s weight on the subs bench”, he jokes. At the last minute, a buzz of activity hits the dressing room and the ranks of journalists as Gabriel Batistuta walks in, with everyone asking whether this is the last time the star striker will be pulling on the number 9 shirt for the national team.

3.45pm: Warm-up
Former and present stars take to the pitch to warm up together. Javier Zanetti, Roberto Ayala and Gabriel Batistuta can be seen running with Alberto Tarantini, Ubaldo Fillol and Jorge Olguín. Tarantini jokes constantly and clings on to the youngest players in an effort to keep up with the pace. Santiago Solari, currently playing for Real Madrid, is delighted to be invited, but at the same time queries whether he will be allowed to play in either of the two teams. The laughter proves infectious. It’s now time to take the field.

4pm: National anthem and team presentations
Both Argentina “A”, sporting the famous sky blue and white, and Argentina “B”, playing in blue, pose for the photographers next to the champions of ’78 who will not be playing today. The players relinquish the starring role for a few moments. Luciano Pereyra, a popular Argentinian singer, leads the crowd in the national anthem. “I can’t describe what it means to be singing for the most beautiful game in the world in this 25th anniversary tribute. I’m delighted to have been chosen”, says the singer, visibly moved by the occasion. Once the national anthem is over, the champions of ’78 withdraw to the bench next to the subs and César Menotti. But this time round, “el Flaco” (skinny, Menotti) will not be managing the team. That honour falls to Julio Villa, Omar Larrosa and Américo Gallego, all of whom are keen to show what they can do.

4:20pm: Time for the football
The game kicks off and the players are having fun. Fillol, Valencia, Olguín and Tarantini are the only old warhorses to have pulled on their boots. “El conejo” Tarantini (the rabbit), hogs the limelight in the first few minutes, upending Ortega right at the start with an assault worthy of a final! In the 7th minute, completely exhausted, he asks to be replaced and comes off to an ovation. “Why did I come off so soon? Well at least I played! Go and talk to those guys that were afraid to come off the bench for the cold” he jokes. The biggest applause is reserved for Ubaldo Fillol, who shows his reflexes are still intact by stopping a goalbound shot from Nelson Vivas. Batistuta, scorer of two goals, comes second in the applause rankings.

5pm: Hommage to Batistuta
Argentina’s all-time leading scorer receives a prize from the AFA in recognition of his career. The ceremony takes place at half time and the striker is greeted by cheers and hysterical screams from his female fans in the stands. After accepting the prize from Julio Grondona, “Batigol” addresses the fans: “I’d like to thank everyone for paying tribute to these players who deserve it so much. As for me, I don’t think I’ll be pulling on the national shirt again, so I want to thank you for all the love and support you’ve shown me over the years. I hope I’ve paid it back with goals”. After this speech and the usual round of applause, Batigol goes off to the dressing room, not to return for the second half...

6pm: The final whistle and the lap of honour
The result, 5-2 to Argentina “B” is somewhat anecdotal. All the players, past and present, are intertwined in a seemingly never-ending hug. The biggest heroes, the class of ’78, receive a replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy. Another life-sized replica is presented to Fillol, who sets off on an improvised lap of honour. Only a few of the more adventurous follow him. The rest, quickly disappear in the direction of the dressing room. The afternoon winds slowly to its end. After a well-deserved shower in the dressing room, the players finish the party in a bar in the capital. Alone, like 25 years ago.

The third generation

The ‘young’ generation all answered the call to appear at this celebration of Argentinean football. From the all-time top scorer in albiceleste history to the latest promising goalkeeper from the U-20 side, Argentina’s current stars were happy to tell FIFA.com of their feelings at taking part in this event - which brought back fabulous memories for one and all.

Gabriel Batistuta (all-time Argentina top scorer) :
"This celebration is not for me. The aim is for people to have fun and for these guys to enjoy themselves. I remember back then we watched the game on the street in front of my house, along with the rest of my neighbourhood. It was a joyous occasion. These players deserve the recognition everyone gave them.”

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