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Pekerman quits as Argentina coach

   

You can read more about this by clicking here.

Some interesting bits from the article:

Klose’s equaliser came eight minutes after Pekerman had taken off playmaker Juan Riquelme.

The decision was heavily criticised by BBC pundits Alan Hansen, Martin O’Neill and Leonardo.

Former Brazil star Leonardo said: “It was a big mistake of the coach. You can’t change the game like that when it is 1-0. Riquelme is an important player in the team.

“It’s a big sign to the team that you are to defend and you always lose like that.”

Hansen added: “I think the coach blew it. They got the goal and took off Riquelme at a stage when it was tailor-made for someone to put their foot on the ball and pass it.

“I think if he’d stayed on they would have won.”

“He is a big player for them,” added O’Neill. “There didn’t seem too much wrong with him.

“It’s a big call by Pekerman and he’s got it wrong.”


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  • Jerod

    Sad, sad day =(

    I’m going to go into a state of depression until 2010.

    =(

  • Brasil Hexacampeao

    THANK YOU PEKERMAN FOR MESSING UP AND HELPING ARGENTINA TO LOOSE!
    THANK YOU BUDDY!

    VIVA BRASIL!

  • AURELIUS

    Sod off Brazilian ladyboy .

    Who are the most promising talents who are likely currently to make it 2010 ?

    Aside from Aguero & Gago of course .

  • cancer

    I am totally devastated, man this was my worst fear of the world cup. In one of my previous blogs I had said that germany are the only team that i fear for Argentina and sadly my fears came true, it was like a nightmare.
    Pekerman had the game under control till he replaced Riquelme with cambiasso. It would have made much more sense if he had replaced JR with Aimar and Crespo with Messi. For the last 20 mins and ET Argentina lacked creative palymaking and Tevez was too tired. Pekerman played his cards too soon,took a risk,unfortunately it did not pay off. He did not calculate for the German goal.
    Well its no use slamming him now , he is a brilliant coach and today his decisions did not pay off, I am certainly sad that he has quit. Furthermore there is no shame in loosing via PK which is essentially a lottery and the footbal gods were not with us today.
    Having said all that I am still a proud fan of Argentina and can hold my head high for the great performance that argentina gave in this world cup, They have provided the best matches of this WC and played the most entertaining soccer.
    2010 will be another story, sadly my celebrations have to wait till then.
    Well done Argentina will look forward to seeing you in South Africa !!!

  • argentina

    vete pal carajo brasilero de mierda!

  • phil

    Man it sucks argentina lost but come on it was in penalties where anyone can win.

    Pekerman did a good job with the team.

    Unlucky in the end especially without pato in net for the penalties.

  • Raul

    pukerman made the worst substitutions …..you would think he would have learnt his lesson by now and know better than to shut shop with 1 goal lead.
    at least he had the decency to quit ….no coach deserves to coach again after a blunder like that ….he is a big reason why this world cup slipped away from us.
    now u gotta wait 4 more years…oh so painful …this game is brutal

  • Pugnate

    Brutal is the right word Raul. He is the only reason we lost. Imagine if Aimar and Messi had come in instead.

  • maxilopez

    Pekerman should have learnt the lesson of our first match again Ivory Coast. At 2-0, he wanted to defend and we really suffered at the end of the match.

    We could have predict this.

    I’m also sad for Ayala. What a great defender we had…

  • Ecuatoriano

    I can’t believe Argentina lost. I was sure it was going to be an all South American final (I had Argentina beating Brasil 2:1)

    The moment I saw Cambiasso I was sure that Lucho was coming off. When he took out JRR I shook my head and said “bad move”.

    Too late to second guess, and who am I to question the coach, but he may have made the change a little too early.

    See you in Venezuela!!!

  • Troglodyte

    Condolences.

  • Brasil Hexacampeao

    hahahahahaha

  • Messay

    :( What a sad, sad, sad, sad day. I hate to be upset at Perkman, because i know his intentions were good, and he did the smart thing by resigning. Eventhough i dont understand what he was thinking when he took riquelme out that early, i will still give him his props. I also feel so bad for MESSI. This guy is argentinas Best player, he really is. It sucked that he was discriminated because of his age. He was supposed to shine at the Champions league final, but the coach didnt want to risk him, he was supposed to shine at the WC but the coach didnt want to risk him. STUPID STUPID STUPID.

    THANKFULY MARADONA will change everything. As everyone knows he will be the next head coach no doubt about it. He adores Messi, tevez, aguero, and AIAMR. So i think we have great future, the one area that concerns me again with our future is our Defence, I hear Gago is pretty good as well as the new kid that just signed with liverpool.

    By the way did anyone see Lukas Pdolski doing the freaking nazi sign? or at least it looked like one, when he stretched out his hand like that

  • Denis Susac

    Hey Guys Im BACK!!!

    I told you guys!! Argentina Sucks!! I think Argentina should start learning how to take penalty kicks cuz that was horrible. I know what you guys are going to say!! ” Yeahhh so Croatia didnt even make through the first round” I dont really care, I would rather lose early than be unbeliveable SAD later on..lol Germany Was The better team period.

    And by the way, Argentina got into a fight at the end of the match. THEY LOST WITH DIGNITY MY ASS!!! I hate teams like that, if you lose take it like a MAN not like a little bitch. If you lose you lose, so all the shit talk from you Argentianians about me, and croatia, never paid off, I knew it never will cuz I knew that you guys werent going to win the world cup. Its not a surprise really, Croatia beat you guys 3-2…so there is basicly no way you guys could of won today. yea..this was a good soccer day, i won $200 in bets. And I saw my least favorite soccer team lose against the germans. This is what tommorws newspaper will say, ARGENTINA DISAPOINT EVERY ONE AGIAN!!

    Maradona is prbably still crying right now..lol

    I feel kind of sorry for Argentina, but face it Argentina will never win the WORLD CUP EVER again its all downhill from here..well its my last day here at this blog..see ya later and good luck in 2022

    bye

    “Argentina is going to win the world cup ” Man!! you guys are silly.

  • sergio

    pekerman’s decisions were disgraceful and are the reason we lost.. the first change was that needed to be made was messi (if he had done this i doubt germany would have even tied it!) and the second was aimar… the first for crespo the second for lucho gonzalez who dissapeared….

    i am honestly in shock..

  • maxilopez
  • ab initio

    Peckerman blew the chance for Argentina by making serious tactical error in his substitutions. Aimar and Messi in the 60th minute when players like Crespo were tired would have boosted the attack and kept Germany on defense.

    This shows that tactical decisions in such an important knock out game in the WC is crucial. I feel for the Argentina fans their team had a very good chance to beat Germany today but their coach failed them.

  • Rain

    I have always supported Pekerman. He did a hell of a job with the U-20. When I knew he was going to be coach for Argentina I was happy because he really made the guys shine. This is my personal opinion, of course. But today men…what did he smoke? If you want to play miserable, you get miserable results.

    Our team left everything in the field, no blame really. I was sad seeing Collocini shooting at the goal, there was no attack at all. The guy must have been desperated. Fine that Riquelme was not doing well, but why not Aimar? Why did we wasted one change bringing someone like Cruz? Why not Messi?

    We could have been done it in spite of the host weight. But we didn’t. There is no one I can blame for that except Pekerman.

    The only bad luck we had is getting Abbondanzieri injured. But the rest, the rest is ours.

  • Brasil

    Look Argentina before beeing umpolite an use bad words against us you shoud be humble and respect the brazilian football. Now you are going to watch Brasil lift the cup again.
    Take a bow an clap yor hands

  • dylan

    we can hold our heads high

    argentina played great and showed why we will always be at the top of futbol in the world ! its always easy to second guess but germany really had the smarter game today

    it just wasnt meant to be

  • sergio

    what do you mean it just wasn’t meant to be??

    it was not meant to be with a retarded coach or don’t you agree that taking out riquelme was idiotic??

  • Julia

    How sad to read insults and disrespectful comments..

    Please, let’s see some respect…?

  • Jason

    Aguante Argentina ahorra mas que nunca!!!!!!!!!!!! Los putos de Brazil van a perder. Los Ingleses son una mierda, y Italia ni hablar. Alemania y Portugal va ser la final. Ya no tengo corazon para escribir mas.
    Es un sentimiento y no me arrepiento de este amor.

    ARGENTINA SIEMPRE!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • sergio

    sorry julia if you’re referring to me… i’m just so mad…there was no need for this loss! there was no need to play back after scoring..no need to take out riquelme…to lose is one thing..to lose for no reason..

  • Evita Peron

    I have a good idea for the next Argentinian coach: try to improve the kickboxing skills that the players showed when they lost. Losing the game and getting their asses kicked is just too humiliating.

  • flo

    ahora mas que nunca amo argentina.
    alemanes putos, que necesitan arreglar un partido para poder ganar. nunca en mi vida lo desee pero espero que brasil gane frente a alemania en la final.. por putos que son.

  • Julia

    No, I’m not referring to you,
    I mean that there are so many hurtful comments towards Argentina, and other countries, that it is sad to read.

    I am really sad for Argentina too . We should have won. It is sad to lose knowing they played a good match and we could have won.
    It’s really sad.

    It saddens me to read so much hatred towards us, and so many hurtful, nasty comments among countries.

    Julia

  • gaby

    I agree Julia, I do not undersatnd why people just come here to leave these kind of comments.

  • Rain

    Julia, gaby,

    There is sick people all over the world, so no surprises. Just skip their posts.

    You can also go and take a look at the blogs from Italy, Netherlands and Portugal (for instance). They are plenty of comments like these ones or worse. And even if you go to the Mexico blog you will see comments like these ones with our beloved light blue and white flag below them.

    As some brilliant person said: “Intelligence is the only gift fairly given. Everybody thinks to have enough”.

  • sergio

    yah..i don’t get it either..

    sometimes i think it has to be with the way england could never get over the “hand of god” goal and it turned the english and american media against us… i don’t know… it doesn’t matter anymore…

    i mean i think everyone would agree argentina played well and provided some of the more entertaining soccer this world cup saw.. not sure why we get so many trolls busting our chops….maybe its jealousy.. i don’t get it…. our team played fair today..and the fracas at the end was due to a provocation… i can understand why players would get heated…

    if anything, the world cup is worse for having germany move on.. they did not show much today..

    its just too bad pekerman was so scared to go for it! never have i seen a game so within reach as the one today..only to slip away because of a lack of confidence..pekerman, of all people, should have known not to take riquelme out.. and what needed was not another “9″ but rather an offensive midfielder with skills on the ball such as messi…its so frustrating…

    i’m really so dissapointed..

    i dont need other people rubbing my face in it to feel any lower….i feel as low as i can feel

  • Brasil

    Look lets stop these insults!!!!! Brasil and Argentine have the best football in the world and I know respect each other….

  • Franco

    OMFG did anyone here watch the game? Why is that everybody is blaming Pekerman? The team was awesome, FIFA organization once more showed that they’re partials and the Referee changed the game drastically. After that, Germany is a good team, we did play better than them but not THAT better, and that’s why we went to pks… well, that and a little help from the referee. Also, Abbondanzieri’s thing was just petty, and the referee didn’t even charge a fault there =/. Besides that, the team played very good and the only thing I regret is Maxi Rodriguez playing so bad all game, as he does always and wasting 2 big oportunities alone in front of the golie, 1 understandable and 1 really not. Like that, most of us don’t understand nor like some decisions, but the coach can’t please everyone and I think he did good, i’d have puted Messi instead of Cruz there, but he needed a tall guy, the idea was ok on papers, but it sucked on practice. And i regret his player list, but hey, we did outplay Germany, it was clear we were not gonna win that game with 11 maradonas playing.
    I just hope Brazil does not win again, if they do, i’ll stop watching/caring about the WC. I also wish Portugal to lose since they were so criminals against Holland.
    To me finals will be England vs. Germany and I hope England wins.

  • abel

    Perkenman e´uma besta

  • NK

    We played better, and the stats show it; unfortunately the ref was biased, and the sudden change of events, from El Pato’s injury and the waste of subs turned the game around.

    The World Cup doesn’t determine who the best team is.. it just hands awards.

    At least I don’t feel as low as in 2002..

    VAMOS ARGENTINA!

  • Navid

    TO ALL ARGETINIANS:
    You might have lost a soccer game so important to you,but your TRUELY great team has already won the hearts of billions of people around the world and we all are looking forward to see you playing again..Too bad they could not fit into the stadium or be heard…
    And the same goes with the great brazilian team..

  • Fredi

    I am a fan of Spain but have always admired Argentina’s persistence and rooted for them to win today. Unfortunately the game was decided by PK’s (which I think sucks) and believe that something else has to be done to resolve these matches. Any one out there have any ideas?

  • abel

    VERGUENZA

  • Albatroxster

    Cade o melhor time do mundo???
    Não seria os Alemães os melhores, depois do Brasil???

    Parabéns Alemanha!!!!

    hahahahah!!!!

  • abel

    para mim vos eram a melhor selecçion do mundial. Perk é estúpido. E Messi? poe amor de deus, cambiasso por riquelme, e depois crespo por cruz.Sofri por argentina, mas defender com uma equipa superior?ARGENTINA, desde portugal, besos.

  • mf

    @maxilopez

    yeah…and the Germans gave Pekerman hash-cookies in the hotel before the match…courtesy of Blatter…

  • abel

    ARGENTINA,ARGENTINA,ARGENTINA,ARGENTINA…desde portugal…

  • Orb

    Franco, hahaha, if such exist 11x maradonas (ok, better 10x maradonas + 1 current keeper) will beat any team 1900 to 2020! ;)

    Yet better if 10x Messi. lol. :p

    Im so happy that Pekerman out! Even if he stay, he will fired, no doubt!

    Next coach is … hopefully … Maradona!!! :) Maradona’s biggest fan is Messi – not Wooney, Ronald-little ;)
    If it happed, will be alot fun in 2010 :)

    I though Pekerman is ok untill today. Sorry, but i must say, fuck Pekerman! He destroyed Argentina, not ref or germany to blame. Germany did well, but not enough for Argentina if Riquelme, Aimar, Messi on THE PITCH!!!

    No more Argentina, so one more team: GO BRAZIL! :)
    (South americans play is so wonderful! And i cont care rival!)

  • Albatroxster

    Como estará Maradona???
    No pó!!!!

  • abel

    Maradona a treinador

  • abel

    brasileiro é estúpido

  • Albatroxster

    Só se for treinador de cavalos… hahaha!!!

  • Albatroxster

    Portugues é viado, além de burro!!!

  • abel

    Lucho Gonzalez, one of the best

  • abel

    veado é a teu pai, lol…

  • Albatroxster

    vocês portugueses só passaram da primeira fase por ter um técnico legitimamente brasieleiro, então não reclama…

  • abel

    deias ter descoberto por um corno HOLANDES

  • Albatroxster

    o negócio aqui é tirar uma dos argentinos, que na verdade seria ótimo derruba-los novamente numa disputa…
    são fregueses nosso, então portugues veado, aprende a jogar futebol com o Felipão…

  • England

    As an Englishman living in the USA (Los Angeles) I have had contact with many different people from around the world. I grew up with a love for this game which had to include sportmanship and respect. I was cheering for Germany and understand your sadness, England have had many sad footballing moments and it’s not easy.

    Even as I cheer against your team, I have respect from them. You have a great team and great footballing tradition, which will continue I’m sure, and you should be proud of their efforts.

    Sergio, in reference to the “Hand of God”. I think a lack of admission of guilt at the time is what effected the English response. It overshadowed the next goal which was one the best I’ve ever seen and Argentina where the better team on the day.

  • abel

    é brasileiro corno

  • abel

    Com corno não se aprende…corno é corno…lol

  • Yeppa

    I’m really sorry for you, Argentina should win the game because was the most strong team with Brazil in this WC. We could play against in the final like in 1990… sorry! Forza Argentina!!!!!

    Forza Azzurri!!!

  • Albatroxster

    o portugues viadinho, vai vender pastelzinho de belém… pro viado do seu pai…

  • abel

    ARGENTINA

  • Albatroxster

    BRASIL @@@HEXACAMPEÃO@@@@

  • abel

    Ò filho, tens um portuguÊs tão açuuuuucarado

  • Albatroxster

    O PORTUGA, TUA MÃE TEM BARBA?

  • abel

    DECODECODECODECODECODECODECODEDECOCODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECODECO

  • abel

    tem na cona , corno

  • abel

    ARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENARGENTINATINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTIARGENTINANAARGENTINAARGENTINAARGENTINA

  • Albatroxster

    Tem futebol ai no seu país???
    Achei que tinha só viado!

  • abel

    meumão,tudobemnaboatáver…meumão…portuuuguesmeueermao

  • abel

    brasileiro é fixe mermão

  • Albatroxster

    irmão??? não sai do mesmo buraco que você seu troxa!

  • abel

    SAI

  • abel

    ARGENTINA,ARGENTINA,ARGENTIN,ARGENTINA

  • Albatroxster

    Dida, Lúcio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Cafú, Emerson, Kaká, Ronaldo Gaúcho, Adriano, Ronaldo

    TIMÃO!!!

  • Enderson

    To Abel: Deco eh brasileiro. E o motivo que voces estao aonde estao eh por causa de um brasileiro, o felipao, entao nao tem cabimento voce nos insultar. Eu particularmente estou torcendo pra portugal amanha porque eu gostaria muito de ver um jogo brasil e portugal na semi final. Seria uma conquista muito grande para Portugal e para o Scolari.

    To everyone: I don´t understand why everyone is so rude. Where´s the so called FAIR PLAY? I actually would really like to see a final Brasil and Argentina so I was kind of upset that Argentina lost today. I was hoping Brasil was going to repeat the final of the Confederation´s cup (4 to 1), but the important thing is to win (or loose) and accept it like a man.

  • Alexio

    Bad luck Argentina……1-0 up u guys should.ve pushed for a 2nd goal…Then it would have been all over….Great defence hardly let Podolski & Klose have one decent chance for the WHOLE game except for Klose’s goal…..Was Riquelme slightly injured in 2nd half…???>…He wasnt in the play as much???…Pekerman’s subs showed a bit of fear…The Argentina team have been terrific but is SHOULD have been more…..All the best for the future…

  • abel

    futibol,futibol,ffutibol,utibol,futibol,futibol,futibol,futibol,futibol,somos os maioressssssss

  • Albatroxster

    O TAL DO ABEL SONHA!!!!

  • alexa

    i’m from ecuador – and i wanted argentina to win because they played the most beautiful futbol and because they are south american. i’m devasted by the loss – because pekerman lost it with those f-ing changes. How can you create a team around one man and then take him out for the most important game. And then not even change him for aimar. I’ll never understand it. And then to put in Julio Cruz, who hadn’t even been playing with the team very much, instead of messi, who was so great whenever he was out there, with real chemistry with the other players. I’ll never understand it. Argentina was so much better than Germany. But , for god’s sake, who gambles on a 1-0 lead with Germany???!! How many times have we seen Germany not play well, then win with a header at the last moment? It’s a truth, like gravity, the earth revolving around the sun, death and taxes. Argentina would have won had they possessed the ball. Without Riquelme they played with no “brain”, no direction, and without messi, without any legs (the others had run so much that they were tired, they needed help at the end!). The coach basically put them in a situation that was worse being one man down. I’m beside myself, and literally sick at the outcome of this game, and I’m not even Argentine!

    And to all the brazilian fans posting here – get a life.

    Anyone know what happened at the end of the game between Heinze and Ballack?

  • nazri

    Wrong decision by Pekerman. I’ve enjoyed every single game Argentina played in this world cup but decision not to let Messi in was really dissappointed. Well, I have to wait another 4 years to watch Argentina plays again. German learn their lesson, and one thing for sure, they are lucky.

  • Lehmann

    Very lucky, our best victory since
    1991.

  • deco

    I was mad at Peckerman for not letting aimar play. Peckerman was scared of germans. He thought Messi and Savi weren’t strong enough for german defence so he put in Cruz who could play better defence with his size. He wanted to close the game at 1-0 by having more ball pozzation. Key to the game was ball pozation. And it came from our forwards and offensive midfielders. They had control over the game. By taking away Riquelme and putting in Cambiasso he was telling the team to back down and play defence. (Traditional mentality to keep the ball pozzation). We lost control over the game right after that point. Messi or Savi would have made some real impact on the game compare to cruz. Tevez was all alone out there. I was more impressed by coloccini’s last efforts.

    Peckerman broke my heart.

  • Pekermann

    Julia and Gaby, stop mouthshiting, let’s bop, bring that asses to me, losers.

  • Pekermann

    Julia Gaby pride lesbians!

  • Hamza

    Not sending Messi is something equivalent to having rooney sitting in the bench and not playing him in the most critical match .. and i bet if the english coach had done this, the english media would’ve kept criticizing him for decades … i just want to ask from Pekerman “What was he thinking ? Was it a moment of madness ? Some strange invisible pressure that kept him from sending messi ? What the hell was it ? WHYYYY !!!! Why did he underestimate the germans !!!!! Why did’nt he think about the possibilities … why did he take such a BIGGGGG gamble… Why [:(] “

  • Pekermann

    I’m from german origin, i never liked Argentinians my only intention was illude you to after throw you down, i’m very satisfied my treat with germans had worked through my plans of substition.It’s
    the best way i found to unload all my rage for born and pertain to this damned country called Argentina, instead of
    my beloved Germany, land of my forebears.

  • carrieArgie

    If Argentine fans get made at Pekerman it’s their business. Right now we are just so sad and emotionally down. The team that left the WC today was not any team, it was our beloved Argentina. I still do not want to admitt we lost. I can not believe it, we had the best team and the greatest players. It is just so very sad. I do not know how to express my feelings, but I am so down.
    Viva Argentina
    Love you guys you did your best and it was just bad luck and Pekerman is to be blamed and he knows it

  • carrieArgie

    I am not going to forget this defeat. It was the worst day of my life.

  • La Verganza de La Mano

    La Verganza de La Mano

    La Verganza de La Mano

    La Verganza de La Mano

    La Verganza de La Mano

    An entire country that celebrates a fraudulent and undeserved ‘win’ in 1986.

    And it’s the proudest moment in the entire national history.

    It actually casts a shadow over my opinion of all Argentinian football and their fans.

    In truth – Argentinians are the only group that believes that they were deserving winners in 1986.

    BUT – I have to give Sr. Maradona credit.

    How he can manage to be a tremendous cocaine addict AND be fat at the same time ?

    That is truly amazing.

    For that achievement, I will remember him always.

  • Aimarvelous

    ARG was the class team of this World Cup and its a shame they’re done this early.

    They were definitely unlucky today, and I feel for Peckerman. Riquelme and Crespo were out of gas. I really thought that ARG could hold them for another 11 minutes without a goal.

    The Germans had no offensive attack, flailed/flopped repeatedly with success, and a crap referee kept giving them every opportunity to get back into the match.

    To see England, Brazil, and Italy get this far without playing a decent opponent makes me ill. Memo to FIFA : we like Argentinian football. Please quit with the crap draws !

  • likexx

    Germany is just a country of white trash.
    Argentina might play with tricks or the hand ball, but it is on the field, and there is referee.
    Germany play dirty tricks under the table. You can sense it, but hard to find the evidence.

    It’s just like Juventus. Most fans have felt this club has been treated different in the league, and there is rumor. However, the evidence is found only recently.

  • Coolski

    Sure, blame the coach.

    If the team had the skills the fanatics raved about you’d win without overtime….

    Alas, the bus is waiting…

    vroom vrooom……..

  • http://yahoo.com Freeflowing

    Commiserations to Argentina, and to anyone else who was actually interested in watching and supporting stylish, skilful football.

    When the team that is playing the highest quality football goes out, it never bodes well for the overall quality of the WC. I have really lost most of my interest in what happens from here on in. I’m a fan of Brazil, but quite frankly if they keep playing the way that they’re playing (dull, uninspired, conservative, anti-joga bonito nonsense thanks to Parreira – yet another coach who deserves to be lambasted – )then its very hard for me to care at the moment.

    I love Brazil when they are playing like Brazil rather than some pseudo-European team. I don’t watch Brazil for that. But I certainly had my eye on Argentina and wanted them to make it to the finals. They performed consistently well at a high level. It seems as if Peckerman clean lost his mind and suddenly thought that he was coaching Italy or something.

    I won’t say much more the Peckerman debacle, because I think everyone’s already said it. Unbelievable. And extremely unfortunate for the team and for Angentina supporters.

    I have a feeling that (surprise, surprise) a European team is going to take it. Spain were pretty, but are gone and after their complete lapse in discipline against Holland’s (admittedly dirty) tactics, I can’t see Portugal going much further, though they do have Scolari.

    Whether it’s England *yawn*, Germany *groan*, or Italy *god no!* that wins it, is all but academic. France is the lesser of those four evils I suppose, but…still hard to get excited over a team that has had a single good match so far in the tournament.

    I was looking forward to Argentina getting to the finals, because I knew that at least I would have classy football to look forward to whatever the outcome. Now, that’s over.

    Traditionally I am not an Argentinian supporter, but I think you would have to be blind not to have seen the quality of their play at this WC, so much so that I have been won over by their talent and performance.

  • alexa

    Great post freeflowing. I completely agree.

    I just want to see beautiful futbol. That’s what makes this sport different than the rest.

    As a south american, i wanted a brasil argentina final, only because that would assure that the wc would stay at home. But, I always prefered argentina this time, because they actually play like south americans, and are not eurofied like Brazil has seemingly become.

    I love the brazilian players, especially ronaldinho, and thank god they seem like good sportsmen, in comparison to the trash brazil fans that seem to be showing up on these threads. I do hope they do well, because, honestly, the rest of the teams haven’t shown that much.

    Something needs to change with FIFA. It just feels so corrupt. Why does Argentina have such a tough draw every single time? They seem to be in “the group of death” EVERY time. And Brazil has an easy group EVERY TIME. I’m starting to get paranoid and suspicious. These fifa guys are probably as corrupt as the italian futbol federation.

    It’s sickning, and they are ruining the sport.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA armando

    i think he was a very good coach after all
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGBSSgr4XA

  • Native Son

    Folks,

    I am so so disheartened!

    I had always braced for this day but as fate would have it, it wasn’ tto be- what we had all along hoped that it’d be.

    I am an ardent fan of Argentina. I will always love Argentina. (I am Kenyan).

    In my view, Arg. plays the best, classiest football of any team on earth and I am so confident that as soon as We lost on penalties, hundreds of millions of fans felt it.

    The Germans advanced to the semis but the Arg. won many hearts.

    I would have loved to see Messi play even if they’d have lost. I’d have loved to see this lad’s last dance on the big stage. He is such a phenomena. Peckerman is the only one who knows why he didn’t substitute him.

    I’ll leave you with these words; every dark cloud has its silver lining.

    We’ll have to wait for another 4 years. SEe you in 2010 in South AFrican.

    I hope Messi, SAviola, Tevez and other young guys make the team.

    I am not as disheartened as I was in 2002 but I am disappointed. I am not sure how I’ll watch the remaining matches.

    God bless Argentina. God bless Kenya.

  • toddutah

    Well guys I think that Pekerman finally out thought himself. In some ways the challenge was that Argentina had to much talent. I have a feeling that Messi would have started for every other team in this world cup and if you were going to save him for the second half then you have to go with him. What a mistake by a very good coach. The worst thing that happened was Argentina scoring an early second half goal then it was defensive mode and no Messi or Aimar. Well no question about it that the most talented team is out and the shame of it is that most of the talent was sitting on the bench in overtime. I love Argentina and with a good coach we will win in 2010. Just follow the simple old rule of playing your best 11. Can you imagine if we would have started Messi instead of Gonsalez and brought in Aimar instead of Cambiasso. The results would have been different. I am so sad as this was a golden opportunity.

  • Navid

    I don’t think i can recall enjoing even ONE SINGLE GAME that Germany played after winning the Italy world cup.They not only did not develope their great attacking style,instead started working on ANTI FOOTBALL technics,especially when they were the underdogs (rememmber Cameroon?)Not that it has been always beneficial,on the contrary,sometimes devastating(remember Croatia..Ahhhh SWEET Croatia)..
    Footbal is not all about RESULTS,It’s about the beauty of the game and the moments that lasts forever..

  • ray

    messay,i feel the same way as you do.Its heart breaking.
    I wanted to see messi, i wanted to see aimar.
    And i definitely wish that argentina took better penalties.

    In the post maradona era ,Aimar has been 1 of the best and yet 1 of the most underused players.how do you know what he is capable of unless you give him a single full match.
    this time Aimar was 25-26.meaning next time he will be about 30.And every1 knows the difference between maradona of 30(1990) and the maradona of 25(1986).

    Messi is the best talent in the team.why not use him?but he is young and get his chance.

    crespo is definitely more dangerous in the penalty area than cruz.He knows the place where he should be and he knows how to give the final touch.

    1 good corner,1 good free kick from riquelme can chanfe the game.he should not have been substituted.He is the central play maker fore argentina.

    Anyway i wonder which team i will support now.
    1 think is for sure.It wont be germany(too imnpolite).and it wont be brazil(too many WC already) either.

    i hope maradona becomes the next coach.

  • ray

    pekerman played negative football.I want positive attacking football from argentina.

    the way brazil play.

  • Tuhin

    What the HELL was he thinking???????????

    Taking of REQUELME…ok fine…but Cambiasso!!!! come on man…. WHAT ABOUT AIMER….THE guy used to wore number 10….what about him..???!!!!

    WHERE WAS MESSI…..what the hell were he thinking… giving a breathe of air for the semifinal…

    Ballac played with injury for 120min….what was wrong with…our heroes?

  • England Fan

    Hey Tuhin from Bangladesh.. Heroes? More like Zeroes!!

  • http://datlee.tk le dinh dat

    hi i love brasil and ronaldo is my idol,i believe that brasil will be the cghampion

  • http://datlee.tk le dinh dat

    i think german ia not worth win infron of argentina,i think germany is the hometeam so refree didnot let argentina have a penalty but he punish and gave argentina player a yellow card.it is nou fairpaly.i hate it .

  • bhutti

    I feel a bit wary about adding to the diatribe against Jose Pekerman who has surely earned enough opprobrium by now for his ill-fated substitutions yesterday. At the same time, I feel absolutely gutted given the amount of faith I had placed in him.

    He had revived the best traditions of one-touch free flowing Argentinian football after the less than happy flirtations of the previous two coaches with European style of play. He had been a father figure for most of the present batch of players and his understated style of management and his insistence on team work had made all supporters of this great team believe in it and Argentina Football owes a lot to this man.

    But sportsmen live under the occupational hazard of being as good as their last performance. And so it shall be with Mr. Pekerman who would be remembered by posterity more for his omissions in Berlin than the masterpiece he orchestrated in Gelsenkirchen.

    It was so tragically ironic to see the man betray his own philosophy and give up on everything he stood for when the going got tough. Instead of playing on the ground, he asked for long ball. When speed and guile was the need of the hour, he went for the apparent strenght of Cruz; and to cap it all he gave up on Riquelme, the very player whom he brought from the anonymity of 4th choice to the centre of the squad.

    We had faith in him after the Confederation Cup debacle, we kept faith even when he chose Scaloni over that champion of full-back Zanneti (though Coloccini must be given due credit for his lion-hearted display against Germany). But this was the worst nightmare. It was surreal to see our magicians sit on the bench while earnest, but nothing more, soldiers brave it out in the ET.

    I am still waiting to be woken up and be told that this never happenned.

    Bhutti

  • Dave Hamilton

    He quit because he would have been fired! Pekerman is a total loser and always was. NOBODY removes their best player and plays to nurse a 1-0 lead DEFENSIVELY with 20 minutes plus remaining! Reminded me of when Bayern Munich took a 1-0 lead in the first 20 minutes against Man United in the treble finale years ago and played defense all game before getting what they deserved twice in the final minutes. I have NO doubt I can out-coach Pekerman, none at all.

    Dave hamildav@yahoo.com

  • http://www.brasilcampeo.com.br Moretti

    See u Argentina!

    You are totally stupid arg. team! I mus confess I reaaly loved that fact!
    Now we are comming towards our sixth star!
    Brasil ” We borned to play soocer”

  • phil

    you guys are crazy
    Pekerman has world youth victories
    I think he knows more about soccer than any of you internet experts.

    I would have subbed riquelme also, he was not playing that good(in fact he didnt play that good all tournament).

    Messi should have played each game all game. You cant sub someone and expect them to play so well.

    Only problem with pekershit is that he didnt bring zenetti along.

    Don’t worry in 4 years argentina will be stacked

  • Rain

    phil,

    Please explain me something, we are nuts because we critizice Pekerman and you do exactly the same? :)

    Give me a break…

  • Alex

    With Pekerman out the best ever Argentine coach should take his place … Carlos Bianchi.

  • Ravee

    Hey celebrate!! Brazil are out of the world cup.. for the second time.
    And to be denied by the Il Twats (French)!! For the second time!
    But the French bastards have been playing a low profile game which is cowardly and then they come banging like they did today.
    Europeans are cowards. THey play too tactical football. They don’t play because they love the game!
    But Zidane is an amazing guy. Respect.

  • phil

    rain i only critized his one selection. His strategy and coaching is top notch.

    look at there game against serbia they played amazing.

    against germany it went to penalties its anyones game.

  • Rain

    phil,

    I wrote a previous post here yesterday talking about how good Pekerman was in my opinion, and how many achievements he had had.

    But yesterday I think all of us are wondering what the hell did he smoke. Anyway I will wait to read his explanations because there might be some strategy approach my brain (and the rest of the world’s) is not capable to understand.

  • prastuh

    its so sad to see the argentines out being an indian i love that team ..
    may be pekerman should learnf rom france how to keep on playing agressive even after scoring first…

  • prastuh

    @ moretti

    the sickening sixth star has been drowned with sickining brazil in indian ocean!!!ha hahaa

  • Ray

    Now that aregentina is out,I am hoping they win it next time,4 years from now.

    currently i am thinking about suppporting france.
    What about you guys?

  • farey

    heheeh brasil really sucked last evening.even worser than any team.brazil was shit
    brazil go home.Argenmtina ready for 2010.it will be our time.

  • Tuhin

    ENGLAND FAN,

    you know what is argentina…what they are capeable of…ZEROES!?…most of the clubs die to get these “ZEROES” in their tent.

  • Pekerman_sux

    I follow Argentina as they are my religion and I believe that it was Pekerman who screwed argentina over. With no Messi, no Travez and no Riquelme, Argentina were bound to loose. Pekerman resigning after the loss is a godsend. Mabye we will have a real chance in 4 years with a better coach.

  • Tuhin

    ARgentina should start from the top…..

    I want to see more player from the youth team….they are the BEST…all of them should get the chance in the national team….

    for the DEFENCE…we need to work hard.

    GO ARGENTINA 2010

  • Malik

    WE ARE STILL THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!! VIVA ARGENTINA!!! WE ARE STILL YOUNG, AND WE ARE ALREADY THE BEST…SOON ARGENTINAWILL HAVE A MONOPOLY ON FUTBOL!! ALL OF THE HATERS FROM BRAZIL….CHILL!! U GUYS GOT STOMPED BY FRANCE….THANK YOU PEKERMAN FOR ACCEPTING THE HANDSOME SWISS BANK ACCOUNT FROM THE GERMAN FUTBOL FEDERATION

  • fan

    I still think that Pekerman was not in his right mind (or was paid good cash). None of his changes made any sense. You are winning 1:0 on a “final like” game and you take your best men out? No sense in that.

  • Henry

    Perkerman made a HUGE mistake. In a situation like that you want people that can HOLD the ball. Once Riquelme left the Argentine team started to panic whenever they had the ball. Note how this was handled by the French. They hung on, dribbled, passed to the goalee and even Zidan show the rest what to do when he whirrled around with the ball to hang on to it and not just blast it in the air.

    I guess the Argentine’s in part need to also take responsibility, psychologically they lost it and gave the German’s the chance to put one in.

    Notice the new trend. You bring in a unknow FAST player that puts an edge into the game. It works. The Germans have one, French have one, and they both are in the final.

  • alexa

    Yeah- Pekerman’s main mistake was losing confidence in Riquelme. I don’t care how goddamn tired he was, or how poor he was playing (I guess in comparison to how he usually plays), when Riquelme’s on the field, the team is organized and focused. When he’s off the field, then things get a little crazy. It happens EVERY time. Likek against England, against Ecuador.

    I find it really unfortunate and disheartening reading the forums on la nacion, because they rip Riquelme up. I can’t understand the why of this – Centering the team around riquelme has turned the argentine side into a TEAM, and not just a collection of superstars. They played beautifully, better than I have ever seen (even better than the time of Maradona, when he was a one man show). The Argies fully deserved to beat Germany, and this is becuase of Riquelme, not in spite of Riquelme.

    And now he won’t be the heart and brain of the team. And will probably not be in the next WC. That, to me, is really heartbreaking.

  • Celestine

    Totally. I have no doubts Pekerman is someone with great accomplishments. But in this game, his mistakes would not be created by even a average coach in Singapore. If Argentina had put on their best players and defended well, and even if we had still lost it, we would have been contended and bid our time again in 2010. What a way to go out… Pekerman was right to resign, (or risk being shot.) he has enough to live on for the rest of his life. Stick to the Youth Team.

    Some German Fans may gloat, and jeer at Albicelestes. Without a doubt, Albicelestes are one of the greatest and most wonderful team this WC. There is no contest, for if we were a worser team than you, we would not to go into extra time and more extra. I have no doubts our reserve goalie acts clueless (WTH? It was his time to prove himself in the WC and he blew it. Thats why he is still a reserve. Dun Argies have better Goalies to take penalties?), and if i may add, the German team is good at PKs. Germany vs Argentina provided the most entertaining, heart-racing (or should i say, heart-stopping moments?) this WC! Not even Germany vs Italy or even France could have provided such excitement. (England vs Portugal was slow & boring. Brasil vs France… erm, did the Brazilians even attack?)

    That being said… However, i still feel Pekerman should be shot. What a jerk, refusing all blame to the very end. (Who hired him? ) Dun bother to check his account. He is not that stupid. (I hope) It is probably in his gf’s or mistress’s account. Hee…

    English and Brasil fans, do your team have to lose so poorly for you to have some respect for others?

    Be humble and the world will rejoice with you when you lift the winning cup. Be conceited and you will be alone.

    How i wish countries like Germany and Argentina could play again soon. This kind of international soccer is so gripping and exciting, instead of the usual EPL, Spanish League and Italian soccer that Singapore usually aires. (Slow, tinted and predictable)

    Another wish of mine is for international matches’s fourth official to be in the TV box and giving the main official as to what shows up on screen. (Why dun the we, soccer fans all over the world do an online petition?)

    Shamsul Maidin who refereed’ in this WC is world number 1 referee. He was however not one of the 12 referees to officiate the quarter-final matches onwards as he was sent home along with 14 other referees despite giving one of the most consistent performances and escaping the scrutiny of the press which his fellow referees such as Valentin Ivanov and Graham Poll suffered from.

    Who am I to say anything? I am juz a Girl in Singapore. (Who loves soccer!)

    Vamos Argentina! (Hoping to go to B.A again. “Argentina, I miss you.”)

  • Inferno Diva

    Perhaps Shamsul Maidin are not accustomed to the European / South American way of officiating to FIFA’s needs. We are Singaporeans. We are uncorrupted.

    Vamos Argentina!!!
    Viva Singapore!!!

  • mightie

    bianchi shld be the head coach not maradona. he can be a part of the team coz he lacks experience. its a matter of national team not a small club.

  • Rain

    Celestine,

    Thanks for your comments. Maybe it will be interesting for you (and also for other people that do not know his previous achievements) to know a bit of the history of Pekerman.

    He led our U20 team to the world cup 3 times: In 1995, 1997 & 2001 (we won this WC 5 times in total).

    We got the fair play award of the above tournament twice, both under the coaching of Pekerman (1997 & 2001). This will probably surprise many hostile readers.

    Players like Sorin, Riquelme and Saviola were “built” in these tournaments and under the coaching of Pekerman.

    This is why I would keep Pekerman (now this does not change the fact that I would kill him for the line up last friday).

    The full stats for the U20 WC are in this link:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_World_Youth_Championship

    If you take a look you will probably be surprised as well on the excellent performances of Ghana and Nigeria.

  • latinefi

    Macri = Boca Juniors = Pekerman = Cambiasso = Argentina goes home!

    its internal politics. At least when Brazil sold themselves (France) they got the world cup (Germany) by beating Germany who sold that game (Now Germany wins).

    When Argentina sells itself it does so with only internal corruption and the only ones who suffer are my fellow Argentinians.

    It makes me want to cry.

  • omar

    yes he must quite, he must go away as a loser, we need a new coach, we need to see new players, we need to see new styel, i don’t like most of pekerman players, i think he also didn’t like to be the coach , i don’t see him motivied, as they brough him by force, no you should’t accepte if r not motived, anway we have to forget this wc also, it’s our habite since 1990, as it’s became the Habite of Urguay since 1950 ! ! ! ! !! hope not like them, the won the WC 2 times and then they slept, no we are sad 16 years, even we were happy by the second place in 1990 at least played the final, ! !
    i’ll give you my new list but i don’t know argenina’s clubs and players playing inside very well

  • Jason

    I don’t want this huge blog to end…I would like to continue the great arguements and discussions we enjoy here so I am extending an invitation to a new blog I have made. I am very open to anyone helping out so just shoot an email to the blog or post a comment. Hope most of you tag along because I have really enjoyed this BLOG…Lets get started on Copa America 2007 in Venezuela, new coaching possibilities, and more… I think I might have to go Copa America since we should be having a revamped team with alot of young talent. Talk soon……….
    http://argentinosenfutbol.blogspot.com/

  • xxx

    keep pekerman as coach

  • mahmoud akbarpoor

    althogh we are all sad.It seems logical.No need to blame Jose pekerman.He’s an absolutely great coach considering that anyone might make mistake if were him.I never forget that nightmare.Argentina always plays promissing but at the end ,encounters with unluckies;This is our problem.I hope alfio basile prepare a logical tactic strategy like Argentina always had.

  • http://www.Brasil.com.br Leossandro_BRASIL

    olha,pra começar todos voces tem q calar a boca porque o BRASIL e a seleçao melhor do mundo,os melhores jogadores do mundo sao brasileiros,Ronaldinho,Kaka,robinho,ronaldo,adriano,julio baptista,diego etc.
    Outra coisa e que o BRASIL tem jogadores que fazem 1000 gols Pele,Romario e tem outro brasileiro que eu nao conheço.Foram 4 jogadores que fizeram mil gols 3 sao brasileiros.
    Os argentinos dizen que Maradona foi um grande jogador,sim,foi,mas quantos gols ele fez?E outra coisa,o unico pais q chega perto do brasil no futebol e a Italia,pois tem 4 titulos mundiais e o brasil tem 5,mas como o proprio Maradona disse “o BRASIL sempre esteve um degrau acima dos outros paises”.
    Entao adimitam que o BRASIL e o melhor do mundo.
    BRAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLL

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