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| May 31st 2005 |
Paris, Stade Colombe
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| ARGENTINA - SWEDEN |
4-1 (2-0)
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GOALS 22' 1-0 Diego Armando Maradona
40' 2-0 Gabriel Omar Batistuta
55' 3-0 Gabriel Omar Batistuta
71' 4-0 Alfredo Di Stefano
85' 4-1 Gunnar Nordahl
REFEREE Pierluigi Collina (Italy)
ATTENDANCE 32,000
YELLOW CARDS Monti (ARG) - Gustavsson, Bergmark (SWE)
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 (-83)
4 Luis Felipe Monti (-58)
10 Diego Armando Maradona
15 Gabriel Omar Batistuta (-72)
9 Alfredo Di Stefano
Substitutes:
21 Antonio Ubaldo Rattin (+58)
14 Mario Alberto Kempes (+72)
13 Juan Sebastian Veron (+83)
SWEDEN (Coach: George Raynor, system 4-3-3)
1 Ronnie Hellström
2 Orvar Bergmark (-59)
5 Bengt Gustavsson
4 Björn Nordquist (captain)
16 Stefan Schwarz
18 Ove Grahn (-46)
10 Gunnar Gren
8 Nils Liedholm
19 Kurt Hamrin
9 Gunnar Nordahl
11 Lennart Skoglund (-62)
Substitutes:
14 Ralf Edström (+46)
21 Patrik Andersson (+59)
15 Sven Rydell (+62)
MATCHREPORT
Argentina started as the favourites for this match, but didn't feel completely at ease with Sweden as their opponent. The Swedes had survived
very well against a mighty England playing at home and relied as always on a very solid defensive, led by Björn Nordquist and the impressive
goalkeeper Ronnie Hellström. In attack Sweden could always provide danger with a prolific marksman from Gunnar Nordahl's stature.
Skoglund had his place back now Edström hadn't been able to make a big difference. At left back suspended Erik Nilsson was replaced by
Stefan Schwarz. Cesar Menotti, the Argentinian coach, decided to field the same side as earlier in the tournament.
Though some might have been a little bit scared about Sweden and their style of play, Argentina didn't leave any doubt about who was the
strongest team in this match. There was never a question about who would qualify for the next round. Sweden, who loved to use a rather calm
way of playing, were simply overrun, especially in midfield. Maradona, who mostly met Ove Grahn, did with the balding Swede whatever he
wanted. Every attack started with Maradona and he fed Di Stefano with numerous bright passes. Or he dazzled past Grahn and tried to
score himself. At the same time Batistuta was a plague for Gustavsson and Bergmark was relegated to a second level player by Di Stefano.
Just like expected: Argentina a class on their own. And whatever maybe destructive style Sweden tried, they were outplayed.
It was nothing less than a miracle that it needed until the 22nd minute that Argentina took the lead. Before they did, Batistuta had struck the
post, Hellström had saved bravely from a Passarella header and a shot from Burruchaga and Marzolini had just missed the target. But then
Maradona decided that it was time for a one-manshow like the competition hadn't seen so far. He took the ball in midfield, went past Hamrin,
Grahn and Liedholm and from 16 metres out he curled the ball over Hellström into the far corner: 1-0 to Argentina, Sweden had been watching
and were left stunned.
The momentum was on Argentina's side and they tried to make the most out of it. Passarella took a free kick directly on goal, Hellström tipped
it over. Di Stefano and Maradona collected the ball in midfield, and together with Burruchaga varying penetrated into the box. Sweden were
helpless but it took until the 40th minute before Argentina increased the distance. Burruchaga took a corner, Passarella rose above Nordquist
to head it back to Batistuta who hammered it in from close range: 2-0.
Nothing so far had been seen from the Swedish forwards and in an all-or-nothing attempt coach George Raynor took off Grahn at half-time to
replace him with extra man up front Ralf Edström. Sweden tried to play with two men in the middle now, hoping for the long ball to cause
commotion in the Argentinian defence. At the same time the team had to keep Maradona and Co. a bit further away from their own goal. But
they couldn't. In the 55th minute this game was over and gone. Batistuta was released by Monti, held off Gustavsson and Hellström was
beaten for the third time. With 3-0 in front Menotti offered some of his stars rest. Monti, the defensive midfielder, went off and Rattin entered
the game. After collecting a yellow card Monti would be suspended for the next match and Menotti wanted to experiment. It didn't really
change the game though Sweden every now and then succeeded now in breaking away from their defensive positions. They got their first
chance of the match when Edström beautifully headed a Hamrin cross past Fillol, but also wide. Still Argentina had more chances. Alfredo Di
Stefano was the only one to convert when a great cross from Ardiles reached him and he could score easily. Sweden were torn in pieces.
Argentina had shown what they were capable of and were happy with 4-0. Hungary were waiting, certainly still more difficult than Sweden
who had been rather toothless this evening in Paris. Kempes came in for Batistuta, later Ardiles made place for Veron. When Nordahl scored
the 4-1 a few minutes before the end, nobody really cared. It was the farewell goal for Sweden who had been been beaten fair and square, but
the team had done what they could and could leave the tournament with their heads up high. Argentina had been too strong. The team had
confirmed their claim for the title. Maradona had proven that he belonged to the greatest ever, Di Stefano had done the same. Batistuta had
scored twice and joined Eusebio, Puskas and Kocsis on top of the scorerslist. Defensively the team had not been challenged however and
that would surely change against Hungary, a match to look forward to again.
On Friday in Buenos Aires France and Portugal play for the right to meet Holland in the quarter final. France have impressed very much so far though
against Chile they could only manage a draw with their second choice team. But the likes of Platini and Zidane in midfield are hardly matched
in this tournament and it is from midfield were they should make the difference against Portugal. Eusebio and his men earned promotion to
this round from the easiest of the 8 groups, but still showed great form. Eusebio is a threat on his own and players like Figo, Torres and
Coluna can hurt any team. It looks to be a very fine South European clash. Nikolai Latichev is the referee.
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