Bielsa (standing) - under fire at home (Allsport)
GROUP OF DEATH KNELL
By Sergio Ferraro, PA International, Buenos Aires
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Economic chaos and social unrest have
bedevilled Argentina this year.
Now the country's pride and joy, the football team, have left an entire nation
wringing its hands in frustration.
Marcelo Bielsa's side, pre-tournament favourites, got no further than the
first round following what proved a costly defeat to England.
Needing to beat Sweden to be sure of a place in the last 16, the Biancoceleste
could only manage a 1-1 draw.
The final Group of Death game was played in the early morning hours of South
America, and the newspapers, who went to press later than normal, have been
forced to report on failure rather than the expected triumph.
"Harakiri" says the main headline in Ole, capturing the sadness of a whole
country.
"We were fought with the goal for the whole World Cup. Sweden defended,
scored once and good-bye"
The only sports newspaper in the country, Ole, blamed bad fortune.
"It lacked the help of God," it says.
"Argentina played its best match in the World Cup, but had no luck."
The newspaper Clarin wrote that Bielsa's team dominated, but lacked precision
when shooting on on goal against a harmless rival.
"Argentina, from the start, had the following attitude - play offensively,
neatly, with no desperation. And it was superior."
Both newspapers felt that Valencia star Pablo Aimar, who replaced Juan
Sebastian Veron in the starting line-up, was the best Argentine player.
"He gave the team needed offensive depth. The creator of almost all the
offensive plays, he was the star of a dull team," said Ole.
For Clarin, Aimar "felt no pressure. He played as he always does, took the
team's control and did a great job. But it wasn't enough".
There are questions being asked in the press of Bielsa's insistence on a lone
striker and packed midfield.
Bielsa never paired Gabriel Batistuta up front with Hernan Crespo.
No one liked the replacement of Batistuta by Crespo, and both Ole and Clarin
remarked that Bielsa "died with his scheme and his ideas."
"The dream ended," reported La Nacion's website, www.lanacion.com.ar.
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