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| June 13, 2002 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1423 |
Argentina also sent packing
MIYAGI (Japan), June 12: Argentina followed champions France out of the World Cup in the second major shock in 24 hours when they drew 1-1 with Sweden in their group F decider Wednesday.
Pre-tournament favourites, Argentina, who had lost 1-0 to England in their previous game, failed to get past the first round for the first time since 1962.
Argentina dominated possession but Anders Svensson curled a fine free kick inside the top right corner of Pablo Cavallero’s goal one minute before the interval to put Sweden ahead.
In the dying minutes, Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, won a penalty. Ariel Ortega’s shot was saved but substitute Hernan Crespo scored from the follow-up.
It was too little too late and another upset was added to a tournament full of surprises. After France and Uruguay, champions in 1930 and 1950, Argentina become the third former winners to fall at the first hurdle.
Sweden finish top of the “group of death” and go on to play group A runners-up Senegal while England, who drew 0-0 with Nigeria, face Denmark.
A disconsolate Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa said: “I feel a great sadness and disappointment. To be favourites is a presumption prior to playing. Afterwards you have to confirm that in practice and we didn’t.”
His job is now thought to be in jeopardy in the football-mad nation which had hoped that World Cup success would lift it out of its economic doldrums.
“My contract finishes at the end of the month,” he said. “For now I have nothing to say. If I have to talk about it at the time I will do so.”
Svensson said afterwards: “This is the best thing that’s happened in my career. Everybody played really well. I really wanted to take that free kick.”
Joint coach Lars Lagerback: “It is fantastic to finish top of the group. We have a special group of players who all work for each other.
“We knew we would have to defend well and we did. We were a bit lucky but we showed character.”
Argentina, who dropped captain Juan Sebastian Veron and made three other changes, dominated territorially and enjoyed 65 percent of possession, but their finishing was poor despite carving out a number of chances.
Veron, Kily Gonzalez and Hernan Crespo were brought on in the last half hour for Matias Almeyda, Juan Pablo Sorin and the ineffectual Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina went all out to try to save the game and their tournament.
Right on the half-time whistle, Argentina suffered an extraordinary blow when substitute Claudio Caniggia was shown a red card for dissent while still watching from the bench.
Their best chance of the first half and the only one on target from both sides in a largely sterile first 45 minutes was a header by Sorin saved on his line by Magnus Hedman.
Argentina’s poor finishing of elaborate moves continued in the second and three players in a row failed to turn in Veron’s free-kick.
As Argentina pushed forward in numbers, Sweden threatened on the break and were almost gifted a second goal when Mauricio Pochettino’s clearance from substitute Andreas Andersson rebounded off Cavallero.
Henrik Larsson could also have added to Sweden’s lead with a solo break but was booked apparently for diving when he was brought down behind by Gonzalez.—Reuters
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