MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Pekerman blamed for Argentine defeat.
The English press all headlined the extraordinary substitutions made by Argentine coach Jose Pekerman, which they maintain led to Argentina's exit from the 2006 World Cup.
The papers also highlight the fighting and pushing which took place after the game, and the Manchester United player Gabriel Heinze is blamed for causing the trouble, which FIFA will have to deal with.
THE DAILY MAIL's Jeff Powell wrote, "Exit Argies kicking and screaming after penalties". He went on to say, "The Argentinians usually erupt in dramatic defeat. Punch, kick, punch - investigation and punishment are on the way". "Argentina suffered death by penalties and at the end of it all the entire population of Germany will be dancing on Argentina's grave all over this weekend and on to Tuesday evening's semi-final in Dortmund."
Powell condemned Pekerman's substitutions saying, " Pekerman took off Riquelme and Crespo in an attempt to seal up the win, but cursed himself as premature when the equaliser came in the 80th minute."
Reporting on the brawl after the match the DAILY MAIL wrote "Heinze's bitter ending - Gabriel Heinze was at the centre of ugly scenes which marred Germany's celebrations...punches and kicks were being thrown as FIFA oficials and security staff struggled to regain control."
THE INDEPENDENT wrote, "Argentina were controlling the game when Pekerman withdrew his playmaker Riquelme and left Lional Messi on the bench....Germany seized the initiative and Klose levelled to force extra time."
Commenting on the brawl the INDEPENDENT said...."all hell broke lose as a mass brawl developed enveloping 70-odd people." The paper quoted Michael Ballack as saying that, "The first provocations came from Argentina, they were shouting at our players going to take penalty kicks. They tried to influence our penalty takers."
The IRISH TIMES football reporter Paddy Agnew was most forthright in his condemnation of Pekerman saying, "Argentina only have one person to blame for their defeat and that is their coach. He thought he had the match won, and made his substitutions too soon and taking off Crespo and leaving Messi out was a massive mistake."
Jonas Esbjornsson who writes for the Swedsih newspper EXPRESSEN SWEDEN", said, "Pekerman made a big error by trying to close the game at 1-0, he should have brought on Messi and tried to get another goal, because the Germans are never beaten. Perhaps a bigger error was for him to take off Riquelme, and so his playmaker was gone and the pattern of the team was lost."
Hungarian journalist Robert Bobak who writes for the Hungarian newspaper SEINES BULVAR said, "Argentina are a better team than Germany, but it was the huge German crowd that won the game for Germany. If they had played anywehere else then Argentina would have won. I thought that Argentina should have had a penalty when Rodrigquez was tripped but the referee favoured Germany all of the game."
Many British newspapers speculate that former star Diego Maradona will now take over the team following the resignation of Pekerman shortly after the game.
Patrick Watts - Germany.
Top Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesCommenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!