Argentina’s coach pays the price for poor tactics By MSN’s Matt Ball
Last updated June 30 2006
Germany 1-1 Argentina (4-2 penalites)
So the Germans won on penalties and from the way they took them it looked like they had been practising them for weeks. But credit to them, they deserved the victory.
Argentina will rue their (now former) coach’s choice of tactics. Having gone ahead with Ayala’s headed goal from Riquelme’s corner on 48 minutes, the South Americans played it safe rather than continue to press forward.
In previous matches Argentina had adopted a far more positive approach, seeking to score more goals after going ahead but this time they were too cautious. Playmaker Riquelme was substituted with 20 minutes to go, with defensive midfielder Cambiasso coming on in his place. Argentina then resorted to the usual diving, injury-feigning and other efforts that fooled nobody, including the referee.
Germany pushed forward for an equaliser and from a Michael Ballack cross, substitute Borowski flicked the ball on for Klose to head powerfully home on 79 minutes. It was no more than the Germans merited for never giving up.
Full time 1-1
Extra time came and went with no meaningful chances for either side. And so to penalties. Here is how the shoot-out went:
Germany: Neuville – blasted to keeper’s left. 1-0.
Argentina: Cruz – high to keeper’s right. 1-1.
Germany: Ballack - blasted to keeper’s right. 2-1.
Argentina: Ayala – low to keeper’s left. Saved. 2-1.
Germany: Podolski – hit low to keeper’s left. 3-1
Argentina: Maxi Rodriguez – low to keeper’s right. 3-2.
Germany: Borowski – hit to keeper’s left: 4-2.
Argentina: Cambiasso – hit to keeper’s right. Saved. 4-2
How ironic that Cambiasso took the penalty that ended Argentina’s World Cup. He was the player who had scored his team’s 24-pass wonder goal against Serbia & Montenegro earlier in the tournament. That was back when Argentina played a progressive, positive style of football that rightly won so many plaudits. How they must be regretting their decision to give that all up for the negative, defensive, time-wasting tactics that eventually cost them the match.
England fans may recall trailing 2-1 to Argentina in a friendly in Geneva last year. Riquelme was taken off with 10 minutes to go and England took the initiative, winning 3-2 thanks to two late Michael Owen goals. It was surprising to see Argentine coach Pekerman make the same mistake again; a mistake that led to his resignation once the match was over on Friday evening.
A great semi-final to come
Having gone to the Germany-Poland group match at Borussia Dortmund’s stadium, I can guarantee the German fans will create a terrific semi-final atmosphere at the same venue on Tuesday. Their team has never lost an international match there, by the way. Italy beware. | 
