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| June 17th 2005 |
Saint-Denis, Stade de France
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| HUNGARY - ARGENTINA |
3-5 (2-3)
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GOALS 10' 0-1 Gabriel Omar Batistuta
14' 1-1 Sandor Kocsis
24' 2-1 Ferenc Puskas
32' 2-2 Osvaldo Carlos Ardiles
44' 2-3 Daniel Alberto Passarella (penalty)
48' 2-4 Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri
76' 3-4 Tibor Nyilasi
89' 3-5 Diego Armando Maradona
REFEREE George Reader (England)
ATTENDANCE 80,000
YELLOW CARDS Lorant (HUN) - Ruggeri (ARG)
HUNGARY (Coach: Gustav Sebes, system 4-2-4)
1 Guyla Grosics
2 Jeno Buzansky (-76)
5 Kalman Meszoly
4 Gyula Lorant
16 Mihaly Lantos
6 Jozsef Bozsik
15 Tibor Nyilasi
14 Ladislao Kubala (-72)
8 Sandor Kocsis
10 Ferenc Puskas (captain)
11 Zoltan Czibor (-85)
Substitutes:
19 Alfred Schaffer (+72)
12 Gyorgy Sarosi (+76)
18 Imre Schlosser-Lakatos (+85)
ARGENTINA (Coach: Cesar Luis Menotti, system 4-4-2)
1 Ubaldo Matildo Fillol
2 Javier Adelmar Zanetti
5 Oscar Alfredo Ruggeri
6 Daniel Alberto Passarella (captain)
3 Silvio Marzolini
7 Jorge Luis Burruchaga
8 Osvaldo Carlos Ardiles (-75)
21 Antonio Ubaldo Rattin
10 Diego Armando Maradona
15 Gabriel Omar Batistuta
9 Alfredo Di Stefano (-90)
Substitutes:
13 Juan Sebastian Veron (+75)
19 José Manuel Moreno (+90)
MATCHREPORT
Argentina qualified in dazzling fashion for the semi final with Holland after a breathtaking match with the magicians from Hungary. No one of
the spectactors could stay on their seats during this match that had everything to offer. Strikers dominated the defenders to the max, even
more maybe than expected. And until the last minute the outcome was uncertain.
The real battle was fought in midfield where Ardiles and Bozsik on one side and Burruchaga and Nyilasi on the other clashed for every ball.
Once the ball was won, they could reach their strikers without too many troubles and chances would come naturally. Despite conceding 8
goals in total both Fillol and Grosics were among the outstanding performers on the night. This was certainly the most spectacular match in
the tournament. Both teams had to do without one of their defensive pawns. Sandor Biro was replaced by Mihaly Lantos at left back for
Hungary, Antonio Rattin played in midfield for Argentina because of the suspension of Luis Monti. For the rest both coaches relied on their
proven line-ups.
The 8 goals came from 8 different players and one can not describe the dominance of the strikers over the defenders more clearly. It wasn't a
matter of one outstanding individual, though there were many on the pitch, who made the difference, it was fantastic attacking against
average defending. For the first time after 6 minutes when Maradona outplayed Buzansky and Lorant and offered the chance to Di Stefano.
The centre forward did what he hardly ever did: he missed, he shot it at the post. Four minutes later there was no holding the Argentines.
Maradona, not for the first time nor for the last, went past three opponents, had every corner of the goal the choose from but let it to
Batistuta: 0-1. For Batistuta his 5th goal of the tournament which gave him a joined first position on the topscorerslist.
Hungary weren't shocked. Puskas had said before the match that his team would need at least 3 goals to win it. Under his command Fillol's
goal was put under pressure and not without success. Four minutes after Batistuta's opener it was all even again. Kocsis scored 1-1 with his
head from a Kubala cross. For Kocsis, like Batigol, his 5th of the tournament. And they would be joined by another goalscoring phenomenon
after 24 minutes when Puskas turned things completely around. Czibor and Nyilasi combined through the middle, first Passarella could block
Czibor's pass to Puskas but the second time it was bingo. Puskas got the ball and hammered it past Fillol into the upper corner: 2-1 for
Hungary. Argentina behind for the first time in the All Time World Cup, interesting to see how they would cope with it. First they lost their
grip on the game, Puskas had the 3-1 on his feet but Fillol saved with a quick reflex from his foot and Passarella headed a lob from Kubala from
the line. Kubala had responded quickly on a brilliant Bozsik pass, leaving Marzolini stranded. Passarella kept his team in the race.
But then it was Argentina again that beat the clock. Di Stefano now got involved more and if he didn't take the game in hand, Maradona
would. Numerous great combinations rattled the Hungarian defence that could not withstand this torture. The 2-2 was only a matter of time.
Burruchaga played the ball to Di Stefano who passed it with his backheel to Ardiles. The technically gifted midfielder turned away from
Meszoly and finished it off: 2-2 in the 32nd minute. The next minutes were a little bit more quiet but just before half time Di Stefano was fouled
by Meszoly. Passarella, impressive in defence as well as in attack, came over to shoot the penalty flawlessly behind Grosics: 2-3, Argentina
back in the lead.
Immediately after the break Argentina increased their lead. From a Maradona corner Oscar Ruggeri scored with his head: 2-4. It went in from
the bar, Grosics was without a chance again but wasn't to blame. There was nothing to keep this Argentina at bay. Hungarian coach Sebes
knew that he had to gamble now. He ordered Meszoly to midfield, leaving the marking of Batistuta to Lorant. It gave Hungary more power in
midfield. Fillol had to save twice from Kocsis efforts, released by Bozsik both times. Hungary as well as Argentina had their chances now. The
risks Hungary took offered lots of space to Argentina. Batistuta came eye to eye with Grosics but this time the keeper won. Moments later
Maradona was very close to 5-2 when he took a free kick. The ball went out from the cross bar. A masterly pass from Di Stefano sent the ball
to Burruchaga, again Grosics kept it out.
But it wasn't Argentina that scored the all decisive goal. It was Hungary that came back. Just when Sebes had brought Schaffer in the team in
place of slightly injured Kubala, Kocsis controlled the ball in the box and played it to Nyilasi. The midfield had no troubles going past
Marzolini and used the inside of the post to beat Fillol for the third time: 3-4. Everything possible again. Sebes tried to turn the tide by
replacing full back Buzansky with yet an extra striker, Sarosi. Argentina had to defend now and Batistuta was the only player to stay up front.
Schaffer was close to a sensational equalizer, his shot went just wide. Sarosi took the ball to Puskas, Fillol parried the shot. With Imre
Schlosser-Lakatos replacing Czibor in the dying minutes Hungary tried another skillful striker with a superb goalscoring ability. But in the end
it was Maradona who decided the game. From his own half he outplayed Meszoly, Bozsik and Lantos. Alone against Grosics he made no
mistake and simply put the ball in the net: 3-5.
It had been a game the whole world would be talking about for a long time to come. Hungary had been very dangerous throughout the match
but hadn't been able to stop brilliant players like Maradona and Di Stefano. Argentina had done just a little bit better defensively and had kept
the famous Kubala, Kocsis, Puskas and Czibor to "just" 3 goals. It was the number of goals Puskas had thought his team would need, but it
had not been enough. Hungary simply had no Passarella, no Marzolini and even no Ruggeri or Zanetti. Argentina in the end had been the
better team. But it had been a great match all the way. With a strong winner, now facing an even tougher challenge. Argentina-Holland,
Maradona vs. Cruijff, Di Stefano versus Neeskens, Monti vs. Van Hanegem, Batistuta vs. Rijkaard. What would you like more?
Possibly the biggest match-up Europeans can think of is the last quarter final of the All Time World Cup: Italy vs. Germany. Everyone
remembers the huge semi final these two played in 1970, when Italy won. The Squadra also won an even more important encounter: the final
of 1982. But how will it be this time? Germany had the more difficult route to this quarter final. They lost to Argentina but took revenge
against England who were beaten from the spot. Helmut Schön will not change too much on his team. For Italy Giuseppe Bergomi is
suspended. Most likely replacement is Tarcisio Burgnich. Most pundits await a low scoring match, but they were surprised in 1970 when
everyone thought the same. Italy have shown the world that they are hard to beat in defence and capable of scoring any time. But they have
not faced a team like Germany yet who will never be beaten below par, especially not during World Cups. The match will be played in
Montevideo on Tuesday. Referee is Sandor Puhl from Hungary. The winner faces Brazil in the semi final.
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