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Argentina wants to lose the match against Oranje

June 20th, 2006 | By: Jan | 21 Comments »

The Argentinian manager Jose Pekerman was officially not available for the press, but according to Argentinian journo’s, this is what he told them informally:

He’d rather lose against Holland! That gives the Gauchos a couple of advantages. First, they get a day extra to prepare for the eighth finals match. Second, they can stay in their current hotel (their match would be in Nurnberg) and play for their fans there. Pekerman furthermore thinks the difference in quality between Portugal, Mexico or Angola is insignificant.

Pekerman will rest his booked players (Heinze, Crespo and Saviola) and will rest Riquelme and Mascherano (small injuries). Luis Gonzalez will not play due to his groin injury.

(www.telesport.nl)

Tags: Argentina, Jose Pekerman, Netherlands

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Comments

By Martijn | June 20th, 2006 at 12:31 pm

hahaaa, wait ill maradona finds out about this. If Argentina wants to lose, its going to be a big goal fest for Holland. Imagine that, it would be pretty amazing. We have the talent to beat both mexico and Portugal, and im not worried about meeting either one of them. But Argentina will most likely not just give them selves up. I dont think that would keep spirits high in Argentina..

Posted from Oman

By Vincent | June 20th, 2006 at 3:47 pm

Seems a weird reason to me. Seeing as the match doesnt look to be an all out battle, he doesn’t need extra time for rest. Also… *if* the group winner makes it to the finals, that team will have an extra day to prepare for -that- game.

But yea I’m not too concerned with the 2nd round matchup either.

Posted from Switzerland

By Jezza | June 20th, 2006 at 6:17 pm

Given that this ’story’ is credited to the TeleSmut, I would take it with a shedload of sodium.

*Footnote: Telesport.nl is the sports supplement of a Dutch newspaper called De Telegraaf, which is printed on broadsheet format but is contentwise as tabloid as they come.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Keyser | June 20th, 2006 at 7:38 pm

Dag,
being an argentinean, I can tell you than that’s pure and absolute bullshit. The coach will present a side full of reserves, but they are absolutely crazy for getting in the field and show what they can do. for all of them is their chance to show they can play in the first team. So, the NL can certainly win this one, and in this case it will be because they merited it, not because the argntinean side will play at half power.
groetjes

By Jorge | June 20th, 2006 at 11:28 pm

I wouldn’t mind losing to meet England in the Quarters and putting them out with a 5-0 win but they came first in their group so there is no real point.
Brazil see you in the finals.

Posted from United Kingdom

By ab initio | June 21st, 2006 at 12:30 am

Crazy strategy if it is true. It does nothing for the players or the tactics they can test just to get on the field and sleep. And one extra day rest makes no sense. Better to keep the team playing revved up and the winning spirit intact.

Posted from United States

By Mcthingy2 | June 21st, 2006 at 12:51 am

The Argies are so devious, I wouldn’t put this one past them. Still if they rest Riquelme etc, will we get to see Tevez and Messi start? Oi veh!

Posted from United States

By serge | June 21st, 2006 at 4:47 am

not true..this is baloney and you know it!

i have to say maradona’s ex wife is not looking too hot in the picture!

Posted from United States

By ZaMan | June 21st, 2006 at 6:19 am

Argentina doesn’t wanna lose the match, they wanna win it. Crespo said that we are going there to win, a draw is not acceptable.

Posted from United States

By Jason | June 21st, 2006 at 7:33 am

Is it just me or does everyone think Maradona looks like he is still doing rails of coke every other 15 minutes at the world cup?

Posted from Canada

By sphinx | June 21st, 2006 at 9:58 am

Impossible! They wou’nt let it loose.
It may be a play to loose your focus. I feel its a good chance to test the real potential of presently hottest team. And quite interesting to see Vart and Sneijder together at mid-field.
By the way I have moved to Berlin from Myanmar, Mike!
Wish Orange to stand 1st in the group so that the quarterfinal will be in Berlin.

Posted from Germany

By sphinx | June 21st, 2006 at 9:59 am

Posted from Germany

By Jan | June 21st, 2006 at 10:51 am

@Jason
Good one, Jase! I must say, before the first match of Argentina, I did think I saw a shot of him sniffing something. Really! It could be one of those anti-running-nose drops but I did think that it was something else. And then I saw him cheering and thought…

As for Pekerman’s words, I think he was just musing, that IF they’d lose, it still would have some advantages. Something like that…

Posted from Australia

By .::. Argenautas.com .::. Argentinos desparramados por el Mundo » No conviene ganar o perder contra Holanda? | June 21st, 2006 at 5:16 pm

[...] Leyendo los comentarios en el Blog de Holanda del mundial, encontre alguno puntos validos en los cuales una derrota frente a Holanda podria ser veneficiosa para la Argentina. [...]

By I fucked your princess in High School | June 21st, 2006 at 5:22 pm

Good luck today….

But Argentina will win 3-1 even if they try to lose…

Vamos Argentina Carajo!

Posted from Canada

By Deviilz. | June 21st, 2006 at 6:33 pm

Does the odds for an Argentinian win at 1/2 goal advantage to Holland over-rated..?
(FYI. 1/2 goal adv. to Holland means Argentina can win by 1 goal or more margin)
Both teams got a lot to consider,right?..for next round i mean.

Posted from Malaysia