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So far the points are level, but Argentina has thrown more punches.

June 30th, 2006 | By: Noman Ansari | 131 Comments »

We are at halftime and the sides are deadlocked, yet Argentina has enjoyed a lot more of the possession. Thankfully Coloccini was jacked up and good to go, thus the heart attack inducing Scaloni sits out. While as expected, Cambiasso sat out in favor of Gonzalez and Tevez finally started ahead of Saviola.

Argentina has had most of the possession and has looked far more likely to score a goal. We’ve also been surprisingly physical, which has been definitely a tactic. Overall this start is far more comforting than the one we had against Mexico. But having said that, we hadn’t really had too many clear cut chances and neither have Germany. Both Crespo and Klose haven’t had a go yet, and must be itching for a half chance.

In terms of performance in the world cup so far, both teams have nearly identical statistics. While both sides have found the back of the net an equal amount of times, Germany have done it more consistently while the bulk of Argentina’s goals came in the match against Serbia & Montenegro. Then again Argentina has had quality opponent after quality opponent, while Germany has had an easier time of it.

My only worry so far is that we haven’t scored despite the massive possession. I know it sounds like an obvious thing to be worried about, but I expect Germany to come out much stronger in the second half while we don’t have anything to show for our efforts yet.

More to come.

END OF NORMAL TIME UPDATE:

Another heart squeezer! I have to say it has been a combination of bad luck and horrible team management. Even I, with zero coaching experience know that you can’t sleep on a one goal lead for nearly thirty minutes.

Unfortunately we looked to defend upon scoring. I was particularly astonished at the substitutions. The worst of it is that we are without Abbondanzieri, which is just a depressing thought… especially if the match goes to penalties.

Our boys have been surprisingly physical and we’ve had some lucky escapes in terms of being cautioned. But on the one occasion our guy didn’t deserve to be cautioned, he was. I am speaking of Maxi being given a yellow card for diving even though he was fouled.

The game is restarting now. Let’s hope for the best.

Final update

I can’t believe it. I am naturally trying to find someone to blame, but first of all congratulations to Germany, I hope they go on to win the world cup.

I thought Pekerman’s mentality was at fault. Yes we lost our number one keeper and that cost us a substitution, but I don’t understand why we were so defensive after being one goal ahead so early in the second half. I feel all sorts of negative emotions right now, but hopefully we will be back again in four years to exact revenge. I thought we were obviously the better side yet at the same time I hope Germany win this cup for their country. I think for me, Perkerman will be the coach who couldn’t take the most talented team in the world and convert them to champions. We showed how brilliant we can be against Serbia & Montenegro, but in the end it was a combination of bad luck, poor mentality and a damn awesome Lehmann.

It was also a pity that someone from our team threw actual punches when we lost.

So anyway this is a final goodbye. It has been great fun guys.

Tags: Aimar, Argentina, Crespo, Germany, Germany vs Argentina, Maxi Rodriguez, Messi, Pekerman, Riquelme, Tevez, World Cup

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 131 comments.

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By Jonathan G | June 30th, 2006 at 11:28 pm

Listen no need to blame refs here there were no controversial decisions and he kept the cards in his pocket for the most part which is all u can ask for. Argentina lost because they played for the
1-0 victory instead of playing the full 90 minutes. Worst of all they were no subs to bring on once germany tied it 1-1. Argentina had no playmaker on the field and cruz was bad on his touches, so basically i was hoping for some brilliance on tevez’s part for the goal but alas he did not have enough help, and was worn down from his tireless effort on the pitch. That’s what makes me the most sad losing with the best players on the bench. Crespo needed to be subbed he was dead tired on the pitch and maybe riquelme also but messi or aimar needed to be in this game. I dont agree with the way peckerman played it but its easy to second guess now, because if argentina puts in messi or aimar and we get hit for a counterattack goal everyone will be screaming for peckermans head also, although in my personal opinion I would rather lose with my best players on the pitch. Another thing and it kills me to say this is u never see brazil hold onto a 1-0 game they would still keep on attacking. Leading into this cup argentina lost 2 games to croatia and to england because they could not hold onto leads and that scared me. Listen with all that said i think the argentine players and fans have nothing to be ashamed of, we played brilliant soccer at times in this cup, and showed we had the class and talent to win this cup, but sometimes the ball and luck needs to bounce on your side especially when you want to win the cup. Vamos Argentina 2010 in south africa.

Posted from United States

By MCNS | June 30th, 2006 at 11:59 pm

I think Argentina played the best football so far in the world cup. The way you dominated the Germans speaks for it self.
It sad to be ending on the lossing side but great game.

Posted from India

By Guilherminho | July 1st, 2006 at 12:03 am

OK, here’s my objective contribution for soccer lovers in this blog (EXcluding of course the couple of Brazilian sorry-ass buttheads who have come to express their sad complexes and hatred against Argentina; true futbol-loving Brazilian people are not like that):

Pekerman blew it #1: Futbol is a game on probabilities and, Argentina leading 1-0, Pekerman’s job was *also* to account for the possibility that Germany equalizes. In including Cambiasso and Cruz, he failed to account for that possibility and was stuck with those players for the rest of the game. All the eggs in one basket, huge mistake.

Pekerman blew it #2: Pekerman forgot that the national team is representing Argentina, and 35 million Argentinians wanted to see Messi in this match even if Argentina was to loose. This is a very important point: Since this is after all just a game, and not a life-threatening enterprise, Pekerman should have given priority to the passion of the Argentine people, especially that nobody would have blamed defeat on Messi-Aimar. Instead, Messi’s absence dramatically lowered Argentina’s probability of winning.

Conclusion: Soccer is a highly probabilitic game, yet Pekerman is certainly responsible for Argentina’s defeat, and for not representing Argentina (this regardless of the match result).

Posted from United States

By Denis Susac | July 1st, 2006 at 12:05 am

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.

Posted from United States

By sergio | July 1st, 2006 at 12:08 am

this will be my last post.. i am gutted..

pekerman lost this game (the ref was biased but so what?) by making the worse subsitutions i’ve ever seen…

the first substitution should have been goign into secold half or immediately after ayala goal: MESSI….

instead pekerman shit his pants..how could he take out riquelme???

cambiasso and cruz were non factors… cruz or crespo would have been non factors because they could not jack .. you had to dribble and drive at the germans and tevez was one of the only that could do this.. we needed messi to do the same..

the two substitutions should have been: MESSI AND AIMAR..

i am so dissapoitned because the players played well..we were teh bettter team..but to win this we needed more punch.. and pekerman was so scared of germany tying that he gave away the game.. unreal…

worst argentine loss i have ever seen because there was no reason for it! it makes no sense..
did he have a fight with messi? and why did he take out riquelme?

Posted from United States

By sergio | July 1st, 2006 at 12:10 am

GRONDONA HAS TO RESIGN! IT IS TIME GRONDONA GO!

Posted from United States

By Angie M | July 1st, 2006 at 12:13 am

Germany got the first yellow card — and very early. That’s when they had to be extremely careful. Nobody bitches about that?

Posted from United States

By Rolf Habich | July 1st, 2006 at 12:17 am

MCNS :

“the way you dominated the Germans…” ?

Oh boy, which game did YOU watch ???

There were different periods - each not too long - of domination from either side.
How could you have missed the strong German onslaught after
ARG had scored? ARG tried to save it, just speculating on occasional counters; GER had to attack, and attack they did. And gained the upper hand. And equalized within 10 minutes!

Boyohboyohboy you sure ain’t got a clue.

Well, at least you are talking of “a great game” , thus at least indirectly admitting we Germans had our share , too.

Don’t get me wrong: I am not saying a s u p e r i o r Germany deservedly won. Either side could have won. But premature ARG complacency + GER’s slightly superior physical fitness (also a factor in nerve-wrecking shootouts) gave us the edge.

Posted from Germany

By Lehmann | July 1st, 2006 at 12:40 am

Just the victory over a such favorite team like Argentina , were worth a World Cup.

Posted from Brazil

By Lehmann | July 1st, 2006 at 12:49 am

Just the victory over a such favorite team like Argentina , was worth a World Cup.

Posted from Brazil

By Guilherminho | July 1st, 2006 at 12:51 am

I agree with Rolf, either team could have won. But here’s a key point: Germany was faithful to their style, whereas Argentina was not (we are not a defensive team, for Maradona’s sake;-).
I’m not saying Germany succeeded to pull off their style, but at least they were faithful to it. Argentina did a good job in stopping Germany’s fast pace, and I don’t think Germany showed superior physical fitness at all (look at Ballack walking as a cripple). However, Argentina failed to be faithful to our style, and the coach’s substitution choices were disorienting and upsetting for the Argentines (and surprising for the German I guess). Argentina’s style would have been to throw Messi in the field right upon the 1-0.

That’s why Germany won, a matter of faithfulness to principles (besides the logical random component of every soccer match).

By mf | July 1st, 2006 at 1:01 am

I guess if a Argentian behaves like a bad looser here in Berlin he will bare the consequences!

The Germans have loads of respect for Argentianian football.

But I really pray that the Argentinian fans are cool tempered tonight. (Real talk.)

The Germans don’t like bad loosers. Because it’s reminds them of themselves (historywise).

Don’t be mad at the referee. This time Pekerman did the baddest job for Argentine. Like Van Basten for the Netherlands.

Posted from Germany

By Jan | July 1st, 2006 at 1:39 am

I thought Argentina did a good job keeping possesion and keeping things slow in the first half. Germany could not get into the game much. Although, while Argentina dominated possesion in the first half, Germany still produced the clearest chance for a goal (Ballack’s header).

After Argentina went ahead, I thought that this game might be over but interestingly enough, instead of controlling the action like in the first half, they instead started to defend giving Germany the initiative which lead to the equaliser. Although you could see that some of the German defenders were nervous, giving Argentinian players some great chances to make it 2-0. But it seemed they were always too surprised when a bad pass by a German defender reached them.

Then the match went into overtime and Germany tried some more things in the first half and looked quite exhausted in the second half. I guess Argentina was missing someone like Messi to make smth out of this fact.

In the end I don’t think any team was especially superior to the other. Probably Argentina could have won it with smarter substitutions. Germany looked comfortable going into the penalty shootout and won.

I also thought that the referee did a decent job. Could have booked Ballack for the dive and he was merciful to Heinze and Frings for not booking them on another occasion.

Posted from Germany

By Rolf Habich | July 1st, 2006 at 2:49 am

Aurelius, dear,

If I win big in the lottery I’ll send you a five-digit sum of Euros for brain surgery. Only trouble is you’d be too inferior to realize the opportunity!

Posted from Germany

By Rolf Habich | July 1st, 2006 at 2:56 am

To Jan & Guilherminho:

Very good analyses from you guys, I think. Compliments !

Posted from Germany

By tarkaba | July 1st, 2006 at 3:28 am

From a Mexico:

Be proud Argentina and see you guys in 2010!

Ciao.

Posted from United States

By La Verganza de La Mano | July 1st, 2006 at 4:40 am

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.

Posted from United States

By sudip | July 1st, 2006 at 4:30 pm

referee should be sacked.he was playing for germany.

argentinaaaaaaaaa

Posted from India

By Kantorka | July 2nd, 2006 at 2:02 am

I was surprised the German team won… delighted, but surprised. I agree to the analysis above, though, that sticking to their tactics won them a lot.
And penalties always are a kind of lottery, aren’t they…

The thing about the supposedly anti semitic remarks, which seems to keep popping up in the -so far I found it only there- Argentinian media and blogs: They are simply not based on facts. Probably those who wrote that found out by themselves by now.
I mean, reportedly the first German players having been, erm, *approached* by their rivals from Argentina were Frings and Asamoah of all people. (See CNN.com online article.) In their way, they both aren’t exactly the tall blond stereotype shouting racist remarks all the time.
And Mertesacker is so extremely harmless and peaceful in nature you could hire him for nursery, should he quit football… sheesh.
Loosing your head, well, that can happen. Shouldn’t, but does. Covering the embarassment by digging out the most ugly and overused stereotype you can find, now that’s poor style.

Posted from Germany

By hans ze beeman | July 2nd, 2006 at 2:21 pm

I think Aurelius and condor are both morons, but Aurelius wins in the penalty shootout…

Posted from Germany

By cecy | July 3rd, 2006 at 10:00 pm

come on you know that Argentina was THE BEST team in the world cup and you can´t denay it.
it’s simple, we always play with heart not like brasilians or inglish or germans that they only play for money…it´s all that matters…
100% proud of being argentinian and i’m not ashamed of loosing the game against germany..

Posted from Argentina

By Alexandria | July 6th, 2006 at 7:02 am

Argentina played a really great game and I’m really sad that they lost. Pekerman had a tough call to make when the goalie went down and at the time it porbably seemed like a really good idea to support the goalie with better defense. What I do not agree with was taking out Riquelme. If you’re going to decided to play more defensively, you don’t take out one of your best playmakers.

Also I think that the game should be called in Argentina’s favor in light of the German goalie cheating…that was just downright low.

Posted from United States

By Jessie Chen | July 7th, 2006 at 10:26 am

I love Argentina player.
Support them forever!

the world cup of 2010 must be belong to them.

Posted from China

By Kantorka | July 10th, 2006 at 11:10 am

“Also I think that the game should be called in Argentina’s favor in light of the German goalie cheating…that was just downright low.”

Heh? What exactly are you referring to?:)

Posted from Germany

By England | July 10th, 2006 at 5:53 pm

As an absolute supporter of Argentina, I am gutted that we lost out. The loss of an amazing goalkeeper due to injury, the removal of brilliant players (including the irreplaceable Riqulme), and the complete ignorance towards the players with extreme talent (Messi, in particular, but also Saviola and Aimar) contributed to the game loss and the revealing of Pekermans true failure.
Argentina would have done it, had such circumstances not arrived - afterall, Germany aren’t as good as they seem to think they are.
Argies should win 2010 :).

Posted from United Kingdom