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The all-time World Cup




February 4th 2005
Berne, Wankdorf Stadion
SWITZERLAND - ARGENTINA
1-3 (0-1)

      GOALS                   17'  0-1  Gabriel Omar Batistuta
                              52'  0-2  Jorge Luis Burruchaga
                              71'  0-3  Alfredo Di Stefano
                              88'  1-3  André Abegglen

      REFEREE                 Jack Taylor (England)

      ATTENDANCE              62,000

      YELLOW CARDS            Ramseyer, Minelli, Stierli (SWI)
                              Ruggeri (ARG)



      SWITZERLAND (Coach: Karl Rappan, system 4-3-3)

       1 Frank Sechehaye
       2 Severino Minelli (captain)
       6 Robert Bocquet
       5 Alain Geiger
       3 Pirmin Stierli                  (-67)
      14 Heinz Hermann                   (-46)
      10 Karl Odermatt
      16 Rudolf Ramseyer
       7 Max Abegglen                    (-85)
      13 Josef Hügi
       9 André Abegglen

      Substitutes:
      15 Alfred Bickel                   (+46)
      11 Jacques Fatton                  (+67)
      19 Stephane Chapuisat              (+85)



      ARGENTINA (Coach: Cesar Luis Menotti, system 4-4-2)

       1 Ubaldo Matildo Fillol
       2 Javier Adelmar Zanetti          (-62)
       5 Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri
       6 Daniel Alberto Passarella (captain)
       3 Silvio Marzolini
       7 Jorge Luis Burruchaga           (-77)
       8 Osvaldo Carlos Ardiles
       4 Luis Felipe Monti
      10 Diego Armando Maradona
      15 Gabriel Omar Batistuta          (-77)
       9 Alfredo Di Stefano

      Substitutes:
      21 Antonio Ubaldo Rattin           (+62)
      13 Juan Sebastian Veron            (+77)
      19 José Manuel Moreno              (+77)


MATCHREPORT


    The Swiss had hoped for a giant surprise, on home ground, against mighty Argentina. After 90 minutes they had come to know that they belonged to the lesser Gods of the All Time World Cup. Argentina, led by the glorious Diego Maradona, had to give no more than 60% of their potential to beat Switzerland fair and square. Had they used all their power, they would have demolished the men in red. Menotti's players however were satisfied with 0-3 and even allowed Switzerland a consolation goal.

    Argentina first gave proof of their ability after 5 minutes. Maradona swerved past Stierli and Odermatt and passed the ball to Batistuta. The forward didn't hesitate and released a thundershot that exploded on Sechehaye's hands. Di Stefano got the rebound but only found the post before Minelli could slide to ball to corner. The Swiss players had watched it, had been astonished about so much class, but hadn't been able to do anything about it. That was symptomatic for the entire match. The Argentines acted as they pleased. Many pundits asked themselves how the team would combine, with generals like Maradona and Di Stefano together on board. The answer was: great. Maradona set up most attacks, Di Stefano was the deep lying central forward. When Maradona turned aside to the left, Di Stefano dropped to midfield to play the pivot. Minelli, Stierli and all midfielders simply couldn't understand.

    It was a matter of translating their overweight into goals. And that happened in the 17th minute. With a neat back-heel, Di Stefano set Batistuta free for the goalkeeper and the longhaired goalgetter banged it in: 0-1. After that full domination by Argentina, taken by the hand by Maradona. Now Menotti had given the captain's armband to Daniel Passarella, the world was curious to know how Maradona would respond. Well, the world's greatest player ever replied with the class that seemed to be his alone. He was not to be tamed, not by Heinz Hermann (who was taken off at half-time after being humiliated), not by Minelli or Stierli who both received a yellow card. How the Swiss did it, nobody knew but they managed to keep it decent before the break. Still, Passarella headed against the post, Batistuta missed an open goal, Maradona sent a free kick centimetres over the bar and Ardiles saw his volley very well saved by Sechehaye. At half-time, Switzerland were the luckiest men in the world to escape with a 1 goal margin.

    In the second half, Argentina decided the match quickly. A throughpass from Maradona took the ball to Jorge Burruchaga. He drove past Ramseyer and Bocquet, and curled it in at the far post leaving Sechehaye helpless. That was the 0-2 and gallery-play could start. Maradona decided to give the people what they had paid for. And Di Stefano, though much more appropriate, was also given a big hand a number of times. Menotti could bring in a few substitutions and took Zanetti, slightly injured, off in place of Rattin, the man who had left World Cup 1966 on a false note. Rattin took control of André "Trello" Abegglen. None of the two Abegglen brothers had seen anything of the ball. Max tried to roam about the pitch, but got stuck in the blue-white web. André was just invisible. Later in the match Veron and Moreno replaced Burruchaga and Batistuta. Kempes remained on the bench.

    After 71 minutes Argentina finally increased their lead. They had squandered quite a few chances in the meantime. A pretty one-two saw Burruchaga free on the right and he sent a sharp cross into the box. The imperial Monti, who had made an impressive run forward, headed towards goal. Sechehaye this time couldn't hold it and Di Stefano, always in the right spot, stabbed it home. The match now fizzled out. Switzerland arose for a moment when André Abegglen, minutes from time, could take benefit of the only mistake in the Argentine defense (Rattin slipped after a cross from Fatton, the substitute). Fillol got a quick hand to it but it wasn't enough. A late consolation for the team that had experienced a footballing lesson. In every aspect Argentina had been the better team by far, which had been expected but the difference still was huge. Maradona and friends could prepare themselves for yet another team to be considered as one of the minors, Turkey. Switzerland on the contrary would meet big brother Germany, a tough one too. Everything more than a clear defeat would be a surprise. The proportions in this group seemed to be quite clear.

    Next Tuesday we'll continue this All Time World Cup with the great match between Austria and England in Group E. The winner takes a giant step towards the second round. Will it be another miracle of the Wunderteam, or will Mighty Albion stand tall? Austria's brilliant coach Hugo Meisl can compile his team from the stars of the 30's, the great players from the 50's and he will not overlook Bruno Pezzey, Herbert Prohaska and Hans Krankl, too. Alf Ramsey is expected to give Gordon Banks the nod over Peter Shilton and build his defense around his captain Bobby Moore. England have great class in midfield and Sir Stanley Matthews will have the task of providing dangerous strikers like Lawton, Lineker and Bloomer. A match to await with some expectation. The venue is the Stade de France in Saint Denis and Sergio Gonella is the referee.




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