Players and Matches From Yesteryear

To make it worst, in friendlies after that WC final, Di Maria had 1 goals + 3 assists when we beat Germany at their home. He also had goal or assist in Finalissima, CL final and Copa del rey final. He's simply made for that.

Speaking of Zanetti, he won treble in 2010 and still didnt get picked. Instead , we got Garce, Palacio and Palermo. As for 2006, we all know the biggest mistake was to subbed in Cruz instead of 19 year old Messi. Its always important to trust our talented youngster like we did with Enzo and Julian in 2022.

 

Pekerhead picked Scaloni instead of Zanetti in 2006 and there were posters on here defending the decision because they said "Scaloni made the players laugh"

 

Sorry to rehash this for the 10,000 time, but I was at Germany v Argentina QF in 2006. I was so excited at the prospect of seeing Messi in the flesh. We completely dominated that game against a bang average Germany team. So what does Pekerhead do? Subs Riquelme, hands the initiative to Germany and then brings on Cruz instead of Messi. Absolutely criminal, couldn't have thrown the game more effectively if he had been paid. And no, I'm not over it.

 

To be fair, Higuain's misses are really overrated. Messi and Rodrigo also missed chances in the final. Even good chances are only finished 1/3rd of the time. Amateurs think in terms of missed shots, professionals in terms of chances.
Fact is Sabella did a good job with that team. Higuain far better fit than Messi and played well most of the time. Unlucky to have Di Maria (who most of you nobs criticized non stop at the time) miss key matches.

 

I DARE you to watch that match again. Riquelme had a terrible match and was exhausted. Argentina had begun to lose control PRIOR to the replacement. Replacing him with Cambiasso who was an elite all-around mid was absolutely correct. The stupid myth keeps getting repeated.

Cruz for Messi was a mistake. Argentina was very worried about headers back then. Funny how nowadays nobody really fears headers. I remember Aguero talking about this.

 

The thing is Pekerhead made the same substitution in every game and in every game he handed the initiative to the opposition, including the friendly game against England. And no, I'm not watching it again.

 

You dont need to be tall to be good at header. Ayala and Puyol scored a header against towering Germany's defence. Aguero scored header against France in 2018. Messi scored header in CL final, Pele aswell in WC final. Its about timing and positioning. Pekerman still has this primitive concept "need tall players to match a team full of tall players". He said himself that was his reason for subbed in Cruz instead of Messi.

 

The German defence was slow and cumbersome, Cruz was the ideal player for them. Compare and contrast the changes made by Lippi in the semi final against Germany that won them the game.

 

Bro he did same thing in friendlies before wc and lost. Walking Riquleme still controls the midfield better than anyone in that Argentina. Pekerman back then is on par with Scaloni. Both become ultra conservative almost cowardly after a lead. Both have their preferred players (scaloni being one Pekermans) both hesitent with newer players. I feel like Pekerman wanted to prove a point with his Cruz sub. He kept saying how he wanted to protect Messi that he wasnt ready and many agreed.

The only difference is Scaloni has the best possible luck forcing him into correct selections.

 

A little bit difference between them. Scaloni played backward passes after 2 goals lead, Pekerman always did it after 1 goal lead (Against Croatia, England and Germany).

 

I've never watched that match again. Or the 2010 disaster or indeed the final in 2014 or the loss against France.

I remember having a half day at the office to get back to watch the game. Lovely weather outside. Immense euphoria when Ayala scored and then seeing Pato kicked out and Pekerman what a numskull making dreadful substitutions namely Cruz.

That squad even without Zanetti was superb and they should have gone onto the final.

 

Imagine having this at your disposal, but sit them on the bench in WC quarterfinal.

 

Pekerman went on to become even worst in 2014 by losing on penalties to England. He started with 3 DMF. It shows you that he always had small team mentallity at senior level football. Sabella did alot better despite having less quality defenders and midfielders compare to his era.

 

If Pekerman is involve in our 2014 campaign, he'd subbed out Di Maria at 70th minute against Switzerland and puts in Enzo Perez.

 

And now we have Tapia and his Barracas bravas. All Don Julio cared about was lining his own pockets and Swiss bank account.

 

Speaking of WC fouls...even Paredes incident against Netherlands was absolutely nothing compare to this.

 

We had "expert referees" argue for years how Neuer karate attack was totally warranted and totally fine. But nowadays if any Keeper does that he will be red carded, suspended for months and maybe sent to a mental asylum

 

Everytime refereeing went against Argentina, it gets swept under the rug. Everytime.

 

Damn..

EL COMUNICADO DE LA U DE CHILE SOBRE LA SALUD DE GAGO 🙏 👔

🇨🇱 La Universidad de Chile informó que el técnico argentino "se encuentra en buenas condiciones" tras haber sido intervenido de urgencia por problemas cardiovasculares

🔙 El hecho ocurrió un día después del triunfo… pic.twitter.com/jzLDyYpmNF

— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) June 19, 2026

 

But German players are gentlemen...........The biggest load of hooey ever.

 

One had a stellar career. Three had very good careers. Four had moderate careers. Three vanished into the ether.

 

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It's a bit maudlin and sad to see some of the videos on this channel and how many players from teams have passed on many quite prematurely.

RIP to Tata Brown, Jose Luis Cuciuffo and of course Diego.