Both Argentina and Germany have already qualified for the semis. Germany has a better goal difference so a tie is enough for them to win Group A, Argentina needs 3 points to top it. The winner of Group A meets the second team in Group B in the semi-finals. The second placed team in Group A meets Group B's winner.
1-0 to Germany by Kuranyi. 29th min. Argentina is playing with Lux, Coloccini, Samuel, Heinze, Zanetti, Bernardi, Cambiasso, Sorin, Riquelme, Tevez and Figueroa.
Aguante Argentina AY QUE GANARLE A ESTOS INFELIZES DE EUROPA... 1-1 half time not really a great game but acceptable Argentinas goal was super nice... players have taken the pitch... Ref just blew the whistle.... and off we go playing the final 45 min..... sorin passes to tevez...
I didn't see the game; however, FIFA shows 63% possession for Argentina. Did they dominate Germany for all but the two goals (this first one of which should prevent Samuel from being on the team for a long time)?
Seriously I got the impression that Argentinia was not going full speed...just didn't wanted to end with a zero-pointer. Germany didn't impressed me much. Though our offense was partly ok, our defense was weak IMHO. If we play like this next year the first strong opponent in WC2006's play-offs will sent us out of the whole thing.
Argentina didn't care. However, a few things to be taken away from this: Samuel sucks. He's a hack. He shouldn't be playing. He was responsible for both goals. Gave away the foul on the first (which was in the net after 3 deflections) and misplayed the offside trap on the second. Zanetti simply put Schweinsteiger in his back pocket. Cambiasso is a good player, but is not a defensive midfielder. Argentina are a vastly better side with Mascherano there. Colccini wins worst hair of the tournament award hands down. Riquelme is simply on amazing form. My favorite moment of the whole game was around the 58th minute when he dinked a pass to Sorin in stride past 3 Germans. What's happened to Chelito? I thought he was very good at the Copa, and now can't get on the pitch ahead of Mario Santana? Aimar's very rusty. He had a poor game. If he's back in form, however, he and Riquelme in the middle could be devastating. They showed some flashes today. Tevez played on the wing; he's not a winger. He wasn't as effective as he could have been. Chelito would have played better there, imho, even if he isn't as good.
I agree with you, and the way the other group developed with Mexico's win ... deep inside this group of players want another shot at Brazil in a final. .
Oh, and Lucas Bernardi's useless. He's the Edu of the Argentina side. No one knows quite why he's playing aside from the fact that he has the right nationality and plays for a good club.
Ayala was given a break at defense, just like Brazil gave Cafu and Roberto Carlos. Ayala is aging as well, so it is a good time to find a replacement for him. I agree Samuel is completely out of timing. This was one of his atributes when at Boca and Roma. Mascherano will be the DM in the WC, he is with River playing his last month of football before moving to Brazil, and in the midst trying to win the Libertadores. Pekerman is trying Bernardi there ... Demichelis is on the bench. I think Lucas has performed to the needs so far ... but he is no Mascherano. There are few Mascheranos floating in the football world these days. And to Cambiasso ... he is less of a DM ... but his role next to Mascherano as a double 5 will be important. If someone knows how to "milk" Cambiasso and deliver his best for the team, that is Pekerman. .
To start off, both teams were not looking for a win, germany resting ballack and some other starters, and argentina wasnt pushing for a win either. Argentina as usual(in confed cup) started slowly, in almost all the matches played so far, they start bit off colour, they take abt 15-20 min setlle, then they begin to play fluently, well germany started well, using pace and good wing movements, they scored a goal, i was v ery keen to see how argentina respond, beacuse it is bit long since, argentina have been a goal down, they responded very well, with tat superb run of zanetti, the foul on him and riquleme superb free kick, resulted in a very good goal, almost all our chances were from right side, were tevez was used as winger, because our left wing wasnt doing anything special, tevez did ok in first half, with some good crossses, in the second, again argentina started slowly and good work from germany saw them score there second, again we replied very postively, making some good changes, and in 73 cambiasso scored, argentina had about 61 percent possession, which is very good. we do have some short comings 1.Our defence is looked very bad, we had given away 2 penlaties to tunsia, 1 austrlia and one big defensive lapse from heinze(normally very relaible denfender),and lux looked uncomfortable, again we didnt looked orgainsed, we have to really sort our our densive probs. 2.Lucas bernadi, really doesnt look like a NT material, he looks like a weak link in the team,Sanata was good, he perfomed very well.Aimar is playing after long time, he is not match fit, he hasnt played lot, looked rusty, but will improve,tevez looked ok in wings, he had one good run,but for that misunderstaind with figuroga, that could have good chance, zanetti was good , cambiasso is not in the same class as maschernao, but it is better to use him as dm rather then lucas bernadi. 3.We must gets thigns sorted out beacuse if we are going to play Mexico, they are most orgainsed team in the touranment, they are tactially very good, so we have to play very well to beat them.
I am also VERY glad that Samuel is not playing next match (hopefully others as well . Whenever I have seen him playing, he has been putting the team in danger by his fouls. I think Coloccini (despite his hair played a tremendous match. Zanetti was class, as always, good everywhere on the field. Tevez was not able to show much. Was that because of good defending from the Germans, I don't know. Also disappointed about Aimar. Not a good day for him. Riquelme seems to be going up with strength. His goal was perfect. Don't know what Schweinsteiger was trying to do, though All in all, a very pleasant match to watch, imho. Mariano
Did anybody notice that after Santana came on for Samuel, we played only two true defenders? (Zanetti and Sorin dropped back when needed but it was only Coloccini and Heinze at the far back.) I was surprised, but with the way we controlled the ball I guess we didn't have much to worry about. Zanetti did an incredible job, shutting down Schweinsteiger and also creating runs of his own. Riquelme ... nothing else needs to be said. The man is magic. What's that, 4 goals from his last 4 matches? Agree with nicephoras about Cambiasso and Mascherano's roles. Also, Samuel's shortcomings shows just how much we need Ayala in central defense. I'm glad Pekerman gave Aimar a chance today, even if he is "rusty." Once he gets back on form I hope he'll score like crazy, like he used to.
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