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Adios, Argentina 'Group of Death' favorites out of Cup after draw vs. SwedenPosted: Wednesday June 12, 2002 2:12 AMUpdated: Wednesday June 12, 2002 8:45 AM
MIYAGI, Japan (Reuters) -- 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 on Wednesday. Pre-tournament favorites, 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. (Sleepless Argentines weep for Cup woes.) 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.
Disconsolate coach 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. (England advances.) A disconsolate Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa said: "I feel a great sadness and disappointment. To be favorites is a presumption prior to playing. Afterwards you have to confirm that in practice and we didn't." (Bielsa dejected.) 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." ( Swedes celebrate place in second round) 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. Red for dissent Right on the halftime 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. Magnus Svensson steps in vs. ArgentinaFredrik Ljungberg was left out of Sweden's team. Magnus Svensson was called in to replace him in midfield in an otherwise unchanged Swedish lineup. Ljungberg has been suffering from a chronic hip injury and has not trained with the Swedish squad since the World Cup finals began. Argentina dropped Juan Sebastian Veron and made three other changes from the team beaten 1-0 by England on Friday. Veron's midfield position went to Pablo Aimar, who replaced him at halftime against England, and the captain's armband to Gabriel Batistuta. Diego Simeone lost his midfield anchor spot to Matias Almeyda, while defender Diego Placente was dropped for Jose Chamot and Claudio Lopez was preferred to Kily Gonzalez on the left-side of the front line. Batistuta is the fourth player to captain Argentina in only three matches in the tournament since Roberto Ayala was injured before kick-off against Nigeria. Simeone took Veron's armband for the second half against England.
Summary:Sweden 1 Argentina 1 - result World Cup, group F Scorers: Sweden - Anders Svensson 59 Argentina - Hernan Crespo 88 Red card: Argentina - Claudio Cannigia 45 (was on substitutes bench and took no part in the match) Yellow cards: Sweden - Magnus Svensson 65, Henrik Larsson 78 Argentina - Jose Chamot 55, Matias Almeyda 58, Kily Gonzalez 75 Halftime: 0-0; Attendance: 45,777 Sweden (4-4-2): 1-Magnus Hedman; 2-Olof Mellberg, 4-Johan Mjallby, 15-Andreas Jakobsson, 16-Teddy Lucic; 7-Niclas Alexandersson, 6-Tobias Linderoth, 8-Anders Svensson (18-Mattias Jonsson 68), 17-Magnus Svensson; 10-Marcus Allback (22-Andreas Andersson 46), 11-Henrik Larsson (21-Zlatan Ibrahimovic 88) Argentina (3-3-1-3): 12-Pablo Cavallero; 4-Mauricio Pochettino, 22-Jose Chamot, 6-Walter Samuel; 8-Javier Zanetti, 5-Matias Almeyda (11-Juan Sebastian Veron 63), 3-Juan Pablo Sorin (18-Kily Gonzalez 63); 16-Pablo Aimar; 10-Ariel Ortega, 9-Gabriel Batistuta (19-Hernan Crespo 58), 7-Claudio Lopez Match referee: Ali Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates) Linesmen : Heiner Mueller (Germany), Michael Ragoonath (Trinidad)
Copyright 2003 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. |
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