What Can Argentina Learn from 2006 and 2010 World Cup Defeats to Germany?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: July 12, 2014

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The experience of being knocked out of the last two World Cups by Germany should work in Argentina's favour when they take on the Europeans once again in Sunday's final.

Jose Pekerman's side were defeated on penalties by Germany in the quarter-finals of the 2006 tournament, while Diego Maradona's team went down 4-0 at the same stage in 2010.

Ever the pragmatist, current manager Alejandro Sabella will likely have studied those defeats and taken some valuable lessons from them.



In 2006, La Albiceleste dazzled in the group stages before squeezing past Mexico in extra time in the first knockout phase.

The side played some of the most attractive football in the competition, highlighted by the now-famous 26-pass goal against Serbia and Montenegro and Maxi Rodriguez's wonder strike against the Mexicans.

The match against Germany was a tight affair, with Argentina taking the lead thanks to a Roberto Ayala header just after half-time.

Pekerman, hoping to protect his side's lead, took off a tiring Juan Roman Riquelme after 72 minutes and replaced him with the more defence-minded Esteban Cambiasso. 

He also replaced Hernan Crespo with lanky striker Julio Cruz, leaving a young Lionel Messi on the bench.

Without Riquelme controlling the centre of the pitch, the Germans took control. They equalised through Miroslav Klose after 80 minutes, then went on to win the penalty shootout after extra time.

German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann studied a piece of paper, kept in his sock, before each Argentine player stepped up to take his penalty, and he guessed the right direction each time.

Sabella certainly won't make the mistake of under-utilising Messi, but he must be cautious of not ceding control of the midfield to the opposition. While the current Argentina squad has no creative midfielder of the calibre of Riquelme, the manager will be careful not to al...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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