Veron removal tactical, says Bielsa

June 8, 2002

SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) - Argentina substituted their top players Juan Sebastian Veron and Gabriel Batistuta after disappointing performances as their country lost a thrilling World Cup match against England on Friday.

Captain Veron came off after 45 minutes following Argentina's failure to hold a committed England side playing very well and making searing breaks down the middle through Michael Owen.

Owen won a penalty one minute from the interval when he was brought down by right back Mauricio Pochettino and captain David Beckham gave England a 1-0 victory with a penalty.

Batistuta, who did little more than crash into England's big central defenders and get booked apart from a point-blank header straight at goalkeeper David Seaman, came off on the hour to make way for Hernan Crespo.

"I wasn't expecting it but the coach decided it that way and there's no problem," Batistuta said, barely hiding his disappointment.

Argentina's coach Marcelo Bielsa, who spent all match pacing like a caged animal inside his area around the bench, said Veron's substitution was tactical. "It did not have to do (with an injury). The inclusion of (Pablo) Aimar was due to footballing demands," he said.

Aimar, a tricky ball player who likes to probe defences with close control and by keeping the ball on the ground, gave Argentina a different look in the second half. But the pre-tournament favourites failed to equalise despite controlling most of the second period and pinning England in their own half. Veron confirmed what Bielsa said but added that he has been unable to shake off the vestiges of an Achilles tendon injury.

"The coach makes the changes, he's the selector. He works with a squad of 23 and he decides what's best for all (of us)," Veron said.

TROUBLESOME TENDON

"I hadn't competed for two months, I'm still troubled by the tendon (injury) and today it appeared again, but excuses are no good anyway," he said.

Veron was slightly off colour, too, in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Nigeria in their opening group F match on Sunday although Batistuta scored from his inswinging corner to the far post at Ibaraki.

England's victory left them equal on four points with Sweden, 2-1 winners against Nigeria earlier on Friday. Argentina are now a point behind both and face the Swedes needing a win to stay in the tournament.

"Unfortunately we were unable to win again to gain a bit of air," said Bielsa, whose side had hoped to secure their place in the next round with a second victory. "The panorama is the same, even though we had the possibility of qualifying," said Veron, playing down the defeat.

Fellow midfielder Diego Simeone, Argentina's captain in the 1998 finals in France when his clash with David Beckham resulted in England's midfielder being sent off, took over the armband from Veron at the interval. He said the team were not worried.

"The defeat hurts but it's not a disappointment. We totally dominated the second half and England were being choked in their own goal," said the battling anchorman, who at the final whistle walked off quickly after being shaken by the hand by Beckham.

"We just weren't getting that last pass right," he said.

"We've got the anxiety of all the teams, like Sweden who if they lose will also go out."

Goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero, who made a string of diving saves early in the second half, to keep Argentina in the hunt, said: "A goal would have opened their defence. We didn't (score), we had bad luck.

"From tomorrow we have to think as if we're playing a last 16 (knockout) match."