Argentina-England just another game, says Bilardo
June 5, 2002
Carlos Bilardo knows a thing or two about FIFA World Cup™ finals. As coach of Argentina, he won the Mexico 86 tournament, then led his team to the final of Italia 90. Here, he gives his view of the events unfolding in Korea/Japan. Who are the favourites? What went wrong for France? A similar thing, of course, happened to Argentina against Cameroon at Italia 90™. Can Senegal build on their win against the French? How well is Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina's current coach) doing? What tactical advances have you noticed out in Korea/Japan? Claudio Caniggia is a player you know well. What can we expect of him this tournament? How did you see the Rivaldo incident in the Brazil-Turkey game? Do you still get very emotional during Argentina games? What do you remember of the 1986 quarter-final between Argentina and England?
FIFAworldcup.com
There are a number of teams. Italy and Brazil are up and running, and you have to watch the Brazilians. People have written them off, but they could come good. Then there is Argentina, and it will be interesting to see how France do, too. They look tired to me. Thuram and Desailly are players who normally get up and down the pitch - but against Senegal they did not cross the halfway line.
These things happen. The first game you play at a World Cup can be unpredictable. You are always a bit nervous because the whole country is watching. The hardest game after that is often the fourth one.
You may have had an excellent run in the group stage, but you then face the luck of the draw in the second round.
Why not. They had a good qualifying campaign. They knocked out Algeria, Egypt and Morocco - the latter on goal difference - so they have beaten some good teams. They have players that are based in Europe who are comfortable playing at this level. They are an experienced side.
So far so good. He has retained the 3-5-2 system that Daniel Passarella used in 1998, and which we actually started using back in 1984. The system does have a minus - but I don't think anyone has spotted it yet. Bielsa has good players at his disposal, and what he does well is not to discuss his team with the press. I used to have to tell them why I was playing two strikers or three defenders. It was not easy.
None. As I said, it was me who created the 3-5-2 system. At a conference at the 1998 World Cup, I gave a talk to the coaches and showed some video clips, starting from 1968 and including the most recent matches from the tournament. So many teams continue to play with three at the back and a packed midfield. You need great technique to get through that.
He is a good player but he needs a chance to shine. Caniggia is especially good on the break, and will be useful for breaking down defences. But saying that, I like him as one of front two, not just cutting in from the right.
At a recent FIFA congress, the Italian referee Pierluigi Collina said he was more concerned with taking measures against play-acting than he was with stamping out foul play. Sometimes play-acting does not directly affect the game, and as such the referee, but it does affect a fellow professional. And that is the point.
I am calmer now than I was at USA 94, when I felt as though I was still in charge of the team. I had been Argentina coach for eight years, which is a long time.
The main thing I remember was telling the players that football had nothing to do with politics. It was not so long after (the Falklands war) 1982, and what had gone on between the countries was still quite fresh. So when the draw was made, (England coach) Bobby Robson and I made the same point to our players. It was right to focus on the football. As it turned out, it was a great game and a great result for us.