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Friday, July 07, 2006No Consolation.... But at least there’ll be 5 Argentines on the field on Sunday for the world cup finals: Elizondo, the Ref and his two linesmen: Garcia & Otero. Additionally (as discussed here ages ago) both Italy and France have an Argentine on the team. Camoranesi (from Tandil) will start for the Italians. He has been very productive for the Azzuri thus far…though his play deteriorates into sloppiness and violence when he gets tired. Camoranesi became ‘Italian’ when Bielsa refused to give him any assurances in late 2003. Frankly, I think he’s a somewhat better version of Cambiasso and Bielsa screwed up. Watch him during the anthem as he has absolutely no idea what the hell is being sung. France’s Trezeguet was at least born in France (to an Argentine professional football playing father) but grew up in Argentina and played his first professional games for Platense. He hasn’t seen much playing time this Cup. So despite the fact that it’ll be a long four years until the world’s most talented team hoists the Cup, at least we’ll have a bit of a say in terms of who might hoist it this time around… And I can’t wait for Copa America where a young Argentina should crush a geriatric Brazil and start to build momentum…By the next WC Tevez, Messi, Mascherano, Aguero, Gago, Ustari, etc will all be under 26 and hitting the height of their potential. We certainly had the talent to do it this time around. Maybe next time, we’ll be so good that even bad tactics can’t screw it up. 
Saturday, July 01, 2006Pekerman quits as Argentina coach Jose Pekerman has quit as coach of Argentina following their quarter-final loss to Germany on penalties. "This has come to an end and I will certainly not go on," he said. "You have to make a decision and I'm convinced I've done everything in my reach, and it's time to look for something else. I'm very sorry for the coaches and the fans and the players, this team deserves to go further but we couldn't make it." Argentina led through a Roberto Ayala goal but Miroslav Klose's late equaliser sent the game into extra-time. Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso both missed in the penalty shoot-out to see the hosts progress 4-2. The 56-year-old Pekerman added: "It was a very exciting match. We also played like favourites and gave our best although we lost. "The penalties were a consequence of a very even match. It's a shame for Argentina who played very well and in the whole championship." Klose's equaliser came eight minutes after Pekerman had taken off playmaker Juan Riquelme. The decision was heavily criticised by Soccer pundits. Pekerman took over as Argentina coach in September 2004, having previously led the Under-20 side to three World Youth Championships.
Friday, June 30, 2006GERMANY vs ARGENTINA First Quaterfinal June 30, 2006 8:30 pm(IST) HEAD to HEAD 10 Played 10 3 Won 4 3 Drawn 3 4 Lost 3 12 Goals 12 Round of 16 Route to Quaterfinals Round of 16 -------------------------- ------------------------- June 24 vs Sweden 2-0 June 24 vs Mexico 2-1 Group matches Group matches -------------------------- ------------------------- June 20 vs Ecuador 4-2 June 21 vs Holland 0-0 June 14 vs Poland 1-0 June 16 vs Serbia 6-0 June 09 vs Costa 4-2 June 10 vs Ivory 2-1 Rica Coast Coach: Juergen Klinsmann Coach: Jose Pekerman Top scorer: Miroslav Klose-4 Top scorers: Crespo & Rodriguez-3 World Cup 2006 numbers M W D L GF GA SoG FS FC YC RC Germany 4 4 0 0 10 02 38 70 66 05 00 Agentina 4 3 1 0 10 02 21 83 69 08 00
Tuesday, June 27, 2006Argentina 2-1 Mexico A wonder strike in extra-time from Maxi Rodriguez gave Argentina victory in a pulsating end-to-end encounter. Mexico took a surprise lead after five minutes when Rafael Marquez got on the end of a Mario Mendez free-kick. Argentina replied five minutes later when a corner was forced home by a combination of Hernan Crespo's foot and Jared Borgetti's head. Rodriguez set up a quarter-final with Germany when he chested Juan Sorin's pass and stunningly volleyed home. The pre-match script had Argentina stroll written all over it. Jose Pekerman's team were the outstanding side in the tournament's opening stage, while Mexico were far from convincing in progressing from a weak group. But Mexico showed they were not in Leipzig to make up the numbers from the kick-off as they threatened to cause the 2006 World Cup's first major upset. Argentina had already survived a scare before Marquez put them into an early lead. Mendez's whipped-in free-kick was flicked on by Pavel Pardo and Gabriel Heinze allowed Marquez a free run to the back post, where the accomplished centre-half finished like an expert centre-forward. The Argentina fans inside the Zentralstadion may have been shocked, but their players kept their cool and within five minutes they were back on level terms. Borgetti got his head down to bravely attempt to clear a Juan Riquelme corner and was unfortunate to see it deflect past his own keeper. Crespo wheeled away confidently claiming his third goal of the tournament but it was officially handed to Borgetti, by all except German television. However, and despite Borgetti seemingly having the decisive touch, it was later credited to the Chelsea forward. The two-time World Cup winners began to dictate the play with Riquelme pulling the strings and Esteban Cambiasso attempting to unlock Mexico's offside trap. Marquez was back on defensive duty to block Crespo, while the Chelsea striker lobbed over Oswaldo Sanchez after again being put through by Cambiasso. But Mexico showed some resilience of their own and Bolton's Borgetti was a constant handful on the floor and in the air. The striker, who recovered from a thigh injury to return to the starting line-up, tested Roberto Abbondanzieri with a long-range effort and was poised to pounce when the keeper later dropped a cross. Argentina received a let-off of huge proportions when Abbondanzieri rolled the ball out and Heinze had a momentary lapse of concentration. Fonseca leapt at the chance but with a clear run on goal he was felled by Heinze. Referee Massimo Busacca chose the wrong option by only showing a yellow card to the Manchester United defender. Mexico's Argentine boss Ricardo La Volpe berated the official from the sidelines and his side were poorly rewarded when Marquez hit the free-kick straight at the wall. There was more end-to-end action after the break as Borgetti was clean through on goal only to be denied by Abbondanzieri and Javier Saviola was denied by the impressive Sanchez. The pace of the game inevitably slowed, with Argentina's patient passing game dictating the action. But even with the introduction of Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez they found the Mexican defensive wall too sturdy to break down during the 90 minutes, although Messi had an effort controversially ruled out for offside in second half injury-time. With chances not forthcoming it needed something special and Rodriguez obliged in sensational fashion eight minutes into extra-time. He brilliantly teed himself up by chesting a Sorin cross-field pass and then unleashed a left-foot volley past Sanchez's despairing dive and into the top corner. A weary Mexico had no answer but they go home knowing they tested Argentina to the maximum.
Friday, June 23, 2006Holland 0-0 Argentina World Cup heavyweights Argentina and Holland played out a goalless draw in a keenly fought contest in Frankfurt. Argentina came closest to scoring when Dutch defender Khalid Boulahrouz deflected a Juan Roman Riquelme free-kick on to the post. Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt tested Roberto Abbondanzieri while Philip Cocu also forced the keeper to tip over. Argentina top Group C and will play Mexico in the last 16 on Saturday while the Dutch face Portugal on Sunday. The winner of the match between Holland and Portugal will face England in the quarter-final should Sven-Goran Eriksson's men defeat Ecuador. Both teams will undoubtedly be on better form for their knockout ties after leaving out several of their key players for what was essentially a dead rubber. The Dutch were without the likes of Mark van Bommel, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and star man Arjen Robben, while Argentina had chosen to leave out their first-choice attacking duo, Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola. Those who came in did not let their respective sides down. Two such players were Dutch defenders Tim de Cler and Boulahrouz who harried and hassled forwards Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez and rarely afforded them space in which to cause the kind of havoc that resulted in Serbia and Montenegro's 6-0 thrashing. When Argentina were allowed a yard of space, more often than not playmaker Riquelme took advantage. He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions, from a direct corner in the first half and with a low drive in the second, but it was his ability from set-pieces and vision to pick out a team-mate with a killer pass that made him stand out. His delivery was certainly exceptional, forcing Edwin van der Sar to tip over from a wicked corner and then making Boulahrouz deflect his low driving free-kick on to the post. One player who made a case for a start against Mexico was Carlos Tevez. The bulldog forward bullied the Dutch defence all night both on the wing and through the centre, although his one and only clear chance came in the second half when his fierce 20-yard drive was parried by Holland's Manchester United keeper. The Dutch were less pretty in their attacking play, but the makeshift side seemed more content with keeping the Argentines at bay. They were limited to a handful of chances. The best fell to Feyenoord striker Dirk Kuyt, who tested goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri with a stinging effort in the first half and then Philip Cocu whose shot from a tight angle was tipped over by the Argentina shotstopper.
Monday, June 19, 2006Crespo says England are a threat Argentina striker Hernan Crespo insists England are still a threat at the World Cup, despite two below-par performances from Sven-Goran Eriksson's side. England had a problem with beating Trinidad and Tobago but they deserved to win and I know them - they are very dangerous," said the Chelsea forward. Spain and Italy have also impressed Crespo, who added that Argentina will not get carried away with a fine start. "We are really happy with our displays, but we need to be calm," he stated. The 30-year-old scored in the 6-0 drubbing handed out to Serbia and Montenegro on Friday, which will serve to reinforce Argentina's tag as favourites in many quarters. But Crespo said: "We are not thinking so much about being favourites. "We have only played two matches. We showed good football but this is only the beginning of the tournament. We need to be calm. "I'm sure there are a few teams that can win it. Brazil are still the favourites for me." Argentina's next game is against Holland in Frankfurt on Wednesday, when the two countries will battle it out for top spot in Group C, with a match against either the winner or runner-up of Group D to follow in the second round. "It is important we win the group," said Crespo. "I don't know about the draw but we take confidence in our performance." If Argentina and England both win their groups, they will avoid each other at the quarter-final stage and set up a possible final meeting - if both reach that stage.
Saturday, June 17, 2006Argentina 6-0 Serbia & Montenegro Argentina are through to the last 16 after thrashing Serbia and Montenegro. Maxi Rodriguez fired Argentina ahead from Javier Saviola's pass before Esteban Cambiasso rounded off a flowing 24-pass move, finishing from 12 yards. Javier Saviola set up Rodriguez for the second and after Mateja Kezman saw red for a late lunge, Hernan Crespo made it 4-0 from Lionel Messi's cross. Carlos Tevez rolled home the fifth and then teed up Messi who completed the rout with a low finish for the sixth. Argentina took an early lead with a beautifully constructed goal that typified their flowing style. Juan Pablo Sorin's cute backheel opened Serbia up down the left, allowing Saviola to cut inside where he eased a perfect pass into the path of Rodriguez who stabbed a first-time shot past Dragoslav Jevric. Argentina gave a masterclass of passing skills to double their lead with the sweetest of goals. They patiently strung together 21 passes before Juan Roman Riquelme fed Saviola who slipped a pass inside for Cambiasso. Cambiasso knocked the ball into Crespo who backheeled a return pass into the Inter midfielder who thumped the ball home from 12 yards. Predrag Djordjevic vainly attempted to prompt Serbia & Montenegro from midfield but there was already an air of resignation from his strikers and they were the architects of their own downfall as Argentina scored a third just before half-time. Mladen Krstajic's attempts to shepherd the ball out for a corner ended in embarrassment as Saviola took the ball off him and cut inside where his shot was parried by keeper Jevric into the path of Rodriguez who scored from a tight angle via the post. Savo Milosevic provided Roberto Abbondanzieri with his first test in the opening minute of the second half and the former Aston Villa striker was inches away as he lunged at Kezman's knock-back. Serbia & Montenegro became increasingly frustrated as Argentina strutted their stuff and Kezman boiled over with a wild lunge on Javier Mascherano which earned him a straight red card. There was even time for Messi to make a contribution as the substitute latched on to Riquelme's quickly taken free-kick and crossed for Crespo to tap in at the far post. Another substitute, Tevez, scored a fine individual fifth as he beat two defenders in drifting in from the left before rolling the ball in. Tevez then provided the pass for Messi to run on and beat Jevric at his near post to complete the rout with Argentina's sixth.
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