What do you think about the decisions Jose Pekerman made durin that game between Argentina and Germany?

Question

Do you think it was right to take out Riquelme during the middle of the game. Was it correct bringing cambiasso instead of Saviola/Messi. If Pekeman knew that the game was getting into penalties, was it right for him to leave out the strikers? Was it good enough bringin out Julio Cruz at a time like that when Argentina was in trouble? As an Argentinian fan it was annoying playin in Germany. Everytime, Argentina had ball possesion, the crowd starts booing. Do you think Klose deserved a yellow card for tackling the goalkeeper and changing the game. Maybe Argentina could've won if the Goalkeeper wasn't injured.

Answer 1

I think the first substitution was inevitable, the second tactically wrong, the third just plain bad. But I do not want to see him leave the team.

First, there's no question you replace an injured goalie.

The second sub was crucial: he could have played it safe and dropped everyone back (which is what he ultimately did), or he could have continued pushing the team to score more points.

He opted for the "safe" choice, which was understandable given the situation. If you have a new goalie in the game, and you're facing a team that likes to shoot cannon shots at the goal from mid-range, your tendency is to put fresh legs in the midfield to take the ball away. That is Cambiasso's role, and he did well. However, in playing it safe, you are betting your guys can plug up the firing lanes and prevent them from scoring.

It was tactically wrong because you could do that with old, traditional, defensive Germany, but not with Klinsmann's team. They had been frustrated when Argentina was on the offensive because they never got their offense into any kind of rhythm, other than counter-attacks. But once Argentina scored and Cambiasso came in, Argentina settled into their side of the field, with sporadic counter attacks that went nowhere. This gave Germany control of the ball, and with 30 minutes left in the game, Germany managed to score to tie it up.

The third substitution was just plain wrong. Cruz in for Crespo? It turns out that Cruz is actually supposed to be understudy for Crespo, while Aimar, Saviola, Messi and Tevez are all competing to be Crespo's support striker, like their wing-man in a figher airplane formation. At least this is how it was explained to me by an argentine friend familiar with the local argentine news reports and commentary.

So while the rationale was to replace Crespo with his understudy, Cruz proved to be a horibly weak link. He must have shown coach something to be on the roster, but we didn't see it this game. Maybe Pekerman thought that big cat Cruz would be the best choice to go up against the big Germans, instead of one of the little guys. Being big myself, I know a little guy with fresh legs will run circles around a big tired guy. After Germany's equalizer goal, Argentina went back on the attack. The would get the ball in the back field or the mid field; they would move it up to the strikers, but Cruz was never in the right place, and Tevez was pretty much alone and exhausted. As soon as he tried dribbling through three or four defenders, he would lose the ball. It was a sad spectacle compared to what most of us were imagining, had Pekerman put in Messi.

The flea had proven he could play either the wing man or the main striker in a two striker offence during the Serbia and Montenegro game. After coming into that game, he fed Crespo a beautiful pass across the goal small area which Crespo knocked in for the fourth goal of the game. For the last one of the match, Tevez filtered a beautiful pass through two or three defenders and Messi taped it in on the near post.

Of course, hindsight is 20/20, but I really believe Pekerman could have made a better second substitution, and he really blew it with the last one.

Having said that, I think Pekerman should not be judged based on only one game, and I think he is the best coach Argentina has had since Menotti, who gave Argentina their first world cup. Pekerman demonstrated in the four previous matches that his teamwork concept and strong offence works. He also does not bow to public opinion back home, which want to see a bunch of big names try to go "mano a mano" a la Maradona's goal of the century, rather than as a team. The guy is brilliant, but had a moment of weakness, which cost Argentina the match.

Pekerman, quedate por favor!!

Answer 2

I think Pekerman did wrong by taking out Riquelme because there was always 3 or 2 Germans marking him, so Tevez and Crespo were always open for shots and when Pekerman took Riquelme out those 3 or 2 Germans spread out and started marking Tevez and Cruz that just enetered the game (not a very good player for this kind of situation) Pekerman should of also put Saviola or Messi because the Germans were all big and Argentina needed a couple of fast players

Answer 3

Pekerman is a great coach no doubt. But his decision at that position showed some sort of conservative action. I believe that he was mistaken and of course it's already known that he thought he could finish the game with just keeping the scored goal but he just did not consider the additional fan supported stamina of German scud during the last 1/6th. Having substituted Crespo he actually commited a systematic suicide by losing the control of the middle of the field so I think that he is to be blamed for the defeat.

Answer 4

I didn't like many of Pekerman decisions, specially leaving Messi on the bench, but, the truth is that the game is won or lost by the players on the field. If you don't have the guts to kick a penalty right, there is nothing the coach can do. During my long life, I seen many games lost by gutless argentinians players. And not only football, in every sport.

Answer 5

IM VERY VERY VERY ANGRY AT PEKERMAN... he made the worst subtitutions so far in the world cup!!!!!!!!! if he was going to take out riquelme ( i dont see why you would take, he's the brain of argentina) he should have put in el payasito ayala, he know how to control the midfield better than cambiasso. also, why take out crespo for cruz? cruz is not as big as a star as the other players. last i heard, he was a sub in the team he plays for. MESSI should have gone in. him and tevez would have KILLED the german defense. unfortunally , the golie got injured, nothing pekerman could have done about that. lastly, if you knew that the germans are going to beat you on he air, why not start saviola and tevez (for speed on the ground) rather than crespo who is kinda slow and didnt do anything!!!! i guess we will never know......now we just wait for s.africa 2010

Answer 6

argentina is my favorite team and i honestly think peckerman was paid off without the team knowing. taking out riquelme and crespo was the worst idea in the world!!! cambiasso isnt a bad player, but cruz??? he should have put in messi instead. messi and tevez together and ridiculous!!

also, its a shame that the goalie got injured because he was clearly the best goalie. franco had nothing on him. i believe that even with the injured goalie, if riquelme and crespo had stayed on the field, or if messi had been put in, they could have easily prevented germany from scoring cause technically they scored a minute after cruz came in.

the team was legitimately upset that they lost. and isnt it weird that peckerman decides to quit right after the game? that jerk was totally paid. its a damn shame.

Answer 7

Pekerman's decisions frustrated me a lot. I get that one of his substitutions got eaten up when Pato had to come out, but please! Crespo was exactly where he needed to be, and so was Riquelme! All we needed was to switch Carlitos to attacking, not defending like a 5th midfielder. Instead, Carlitos had to hang back, Cruz came in (and what good did he do???) and Messi was left on the bench, when he should have been running circles around the Germans. Klose deserved a card, and so did the guy who tripped Maxi in the German box.

Answer 8

He should be blamed by the Argentina fans. He made wrong subs during crucial moment of the game.

Answer 9

You are right on the money. He messed up big time. His strategy didnt work. He took them off hoping that Argentina would hold out the Germans and it backfired on him. A really bad call and he paid for it. I guess that the reason he resigned

Answer 10

IT WAS A DECISION THAT HE NEEDED TO MAKE WHICH WAS A GOOD ONE AT FIRST CAUSE WE WERE LEADING 1-0 AND CAMBBIASSO IS MORE ON THE DEFENCIVE SIDE, AND WITH ABBONDANZIERI GETTING HURT AND SUBBED THAT'S WHAT REALLY HURT US CAUSE THEN THE GERMANS SCORED AND IT WAS TO LATE TO PLAY MESSI.....BUT IT WAS A GREAT WC FOR ARGENTINA WHICH WAS THE YOUNGEST TEAM THEIR AND IT WAS GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR THEN YOUNG GUYS TO GET FOR THE NEXT WC 2010 IN SOUTH AFRICA....GO ARGENTINA GO.