Argentina fire blanks
May 28, 2002
Argentina's probable starting XI were held to a disappointing 0-0 draw by J-League side Tokyo FC on Tuesday.
And the second string - with Gabriel Batistuta leading the attack - suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Vegalta Sendai.
The results mean that Argentina have failed to score in more than two hours of competitive action - just five days before their World Cup opener against Nigeria.
Their cause was not helped by the absence of striker Claudo Lopez, who developed a fever after catching a cold at Argentina's base camp in Fukushima.
Both games - about 30 minutes each half - were largely
uneventful from Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa's point of
view.
But the starting line-ups - with striker Batistuta picked in the weaker side - was the clearest sign yet that the AS Roma forward may have lost his battle with
Hernan Crespo.
Crespo was supported out wide by Ariel
Ortega on the right and Kily Gonzalez on the left.
And the Lazio striker had a couple of chances, shooting just wide on 32
minutes and missing the target 10 minutes later.
Juan Sebastian Veron was the main playmaker, but struggled
to link the midfield and attack against a lively Japanese
side.
Tokyo FC finished the first half
strongly and, in the second half, Argentina found themselves pegged back with Fumitake Miura and Saturo Asari proving a handful for the World Cup
favourites.
In Argentina's other match, Batistuta was left for the most part isolated up front,
only threatening with a left-footed volley from the edge of
the area after 18 minutes that just cleared the crossbar.
With three minutes remaining, Yoshiteru Yamashita broke through
the middle of the Argentine defence to clip the ball over substitute
goalkeeper Roberto Bonano.
His goal secured a famous victory for the Japanese First Division side, who matched Argentina in every department.
BBC Sport