The Hindu : Sport / Football : Two great goals and one surprise move

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Sunday, Jul 02, 2006

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Two great goals and one surprise move

BERLIN: Argentina scored two of the World Cup's most beautiful goals.

Some saw the Argentines as favourites to win a third title, figuring their passing flair and creative touch would be rewarded.

But a memorable tournament turned sour in the quarterfinals against Germany.

Argentina's game unwound quickly late in the quarterfinal, and one big question lingers.

Why didn't Pekerman play 19-year-old Barcelona striker Lionel Messi against Germany?

Messi scored only one goal in the tournament and didn't leave the bench in the quarterfinal. Visibly angry, he declined to speak after the game.

This tournament could have been defined by Esteban Cambiasso's exquisite goal in a 6-0 landslide against Serbia and Montenegro in the first round, coming at the end of a 24-pass sequence. Or Maxi Rodriguez's stunning volley against Mexico in the second round, a ball the right-footed player hammered home with his left from 18 yards for the 2-1 victory in extra time.

Instead, there's the Messi question.

Messi has to wait

For much of the tournament he seemed isolated, and veteran defender Roberto Ayala made an oblique reference to the young Messi having to wait his turn to play. Pekerman hinted at it too during the team's month-long training camp.

With Argentina leading Germany 1-0 on Ayala's 49th-minute header, goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri went off with a right leg injury with about 20 minutes remaining after a leaping collision with Miroslav Klose. That forced Pekerman to bring on Leonardo Franco in the 71st, marking his World Cup debut.

A minute later, Pekerman sent on defensive midfielder Cambiasso for playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme. Pekerman said Riquelme was tiring — Riquelme also declined to speak after the game.

With one change left, he snubbed Messi. Instead, in the 79th he took off Hernan Crespo and replaced him with team's other tall striker — Julio Cruz. But no Messi, who has been described as the "next Maradona."

A minute later, the tournament's top scorer Klose netted his fifth, heading home in the 80th following passes from Michael Ballack and substitute Tim Borowski.

Fuzzy explanation

Pekerman's explanation was fuzzy, particularly since Argentina players spoke of needing to beat the taller Germans on the ground — not in the air.

"We know Julio is a player who gives us some scoring punch in the area," Pekerman said. "We needed a player who gave us this option, and Cruz gives us this."

Despite 58 percent of the possession — 65 in the first half — the game was settled in a penalty shootout. — AP

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