Sorry Veron asks Argentina fans to have faith

June 9, 2002

SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) - Argentina captain and playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron asked the Latin American nation's disconsolate fans to keep faith with their team after their 1-0 defeat by England in the Sapporo Dome stadium.

Veron, his right leg heavily strapped from ankle to knee, rejected suggestions by Argentine reporters that his own poor form and a lack of ambition in the team had contributed to the defeat, their first by England in a competitive match since the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals when they lost 1-0.

He was withdrawn after an ineffective first half on Friday, when he untypically misplaced several passes, and was replaced by Pablo Aimar who injected greater movement, pace and penetration, although without any accuracy in finishing.

"Of course, this is a blow to us," he said. "We have lost. I don't know what other people have said, but we tried and we lost and we feel bad. We played as well as we could, but it was not enough tonight.

"We played quite well, we worked very hard, but even when we had built up some pressure, we could not score. Of course, there was pressure on us. But not anything different to normal. Pressure is part of this game. The group is still open and we have to be careful about our position now."

Sweden and England lead group G with four points each ahead of third-placed Argentina on three points and Nigeria, who cannot qualify for the second round, fourth without a point after their 2-1 defeat to Sweden in Friday's second round of games.

England play Nigeria in their final group game in Osaka on Wednesday, while Argentina must beat Sweden in Miyagi on the same day if they are to reach the second round.

Argentina's defeat was their first in 19 games since July 2000, when they lost away to Brazil in Sao Paulo in a World Cup qualifier.

Asked by reporters if the team failed to function when he was not playing well, or was absent, Veron said: "No that's not true. We have many great players who can play well. No, there is no special pressure on me. No, for me the pressure does not exist."

Veron said he came off because he was not playing well. The Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa said the shaven-headed midfielder was "in poor form" and that none of his players, including celebrated goalscoring striker Gabriel Batistuta, were injured.

"We all knew how much this game meant to our people in Argentina," said Veron. "We understood that and we did not want to lose. As I said, we wanted to win. I have confidence in this team. The only problem tonight was that we did not play our best in attack. We did not score. But England had a very strong defence.

"Everyone had great confidence in us before the finals began and we need that faith in the team more than ever now. The people of Argentina must keep their faith in our team because, like all teams, we will encounter some hard times. It is normal. The players are very disappointed because they know what this game meant to the people of Argentina."

The last time England beat Argentina was in a friendly fixture at Wembley stadium in London in 1980 when they won 3-1.