La Máquina (English:the Machine) is a nickname given to theRiver Platefootball team from 1941 to 1947,[1] commonly referred by the media as the best Argentine team of its era and one of the best teams worldwide.[2][3][4][5]
The core group ofla Máquina were forwardsJuan Carlos Muñoz,José Manuel Moreno,Adolfo Pedernera,Ángel Labruna, andFélix Loustau.[6] Other players that were part of the attacking line were Aristóbulo Deambrossi,Carlos Peucelle,Alberto Gallo [it], andRenato Cesarini. InLa Máquina also debutedAlfredo Di Stéfano and goalkeeperAmadeo Carrizo.
Due to its style of play, "The Machine" is often cataloged as a pioneer in the practice of the so-calledTotal Football, and the South American predecessor of the Hungarian national teams of the 50's, and theClockwork OrangeNetherlands national team of the 1970's.[7][8] The team won a total of 10 titles, including fourPrimera División and threeCopa Aldao, among other titles.
The nickname was given to them by Borocotó, aUruguayan sports journalist working forEl Gráfico, after River Plate defeatedChacarita Juniors 6–2 on 12 June 1942. Borocotó used that adjective to illustrate the performance of the forward line on the field.[9]
For their dynamism and rotating positions,La Máquina is often considered a precursor of the famousClockwork Orange as it was nicknamed theNetherlands national football team that played the1974 FIFA World Cup.[1][10] In 1941, River Plate's La Máquina coaches,Renato Cesarini andCarlos Peucelle, started using the left wingerAdolfo Pedernera as a man of reference "switching him to a more central and withdrawn role and inviting him to alternate between driving into the box to finish moves off and sitting back to direct them". It was one of the first uses of the figure of thefalse nine. When Pedernera transferred toAtlanta, a youngAlfredo Di Stéfano took his place.[11]
The first time they played together was on June 28, 1942, in Estadio Monumental v.Platense. River Plate won by 1-0, with Félix Loustau replacing Aristóbulo Deambrossi as left winger.
From 1943 to 1946 the team achieved two championships and finished as runner-up twice. Other players that took part ofLa Máquina were Aristóbulo Deambrossi,Carlos Peucelle, Alberto Gallo andRenato Cesarini.
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