Argentina want Bielsa to stay

June 12, 2002

Bielsa's current contract is about to expire, but Julio Grondona believes his job is only half-finished.

"I would like the cycle to continue," he told Radio Mitre. "There is a serious and important project to complete."

The Argentine media are less convinced.

The national team's failure is because "Bielsa has fallen too much in love with his own ideas", according to Ole sports newspaper.

His refusal to play Hernan Crespo and Gabriel Batistuta, "two of the most important strikers in the world", in the same team was at least partly to blame for Argentina's downfall, the paper said.

Meanwhile, the international retirement of Batistuta is a source of huge regret in his homeland.

"Argentina's greatest goalscorer said farewell to the national team leaving, in his last match, a pale image," Ole reports.

Batistuta, who was seen in tears at the end, confirmed there would be no going back.

"I don't think they will need a veteran player like me," the Roma forward said. "I am leaving and sad, very sad."

With 56 goals in 78 matches for Argentina, "Batigol" is the most prolific Argentine international of all time.

The display against Sweden on Wednesday was Argentina's best of the tournament, according to the media.

Midfielder Pablo Aimar was hailed in particular as "a breath of fresh air" by El Clarin, who felt his performance at least gave Argentina hope for the future.

BBC Sport Online