Int Football - Maradona's Argentina down Scots

Eurosport - Thu, 20 Nov 11:00:00 2008

An early Maxi Rodriguez goal gave Diego Maradona a winning start to his international coaching career as Argentina beat Scotland 1-0 in an international friendly at Hampden Park.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 International friendlies Scotland-Argentina Javier Zanetti Kris Commons - 0

Prior to the match, attention was firmly focused on the charismatic World Cup winner but it was his players that caught the eye once the game was underway as they stormed out of the blocks, leaving George Burley's side with no answer.

With so much talent in their starting line-up, including Premier League-based Javier Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Jonas Gutierrez, Argentina started as expected: in control and on top.

Maxi broke the deadlock after just eight minutes, the Atletico Madrid midfielder finishing off a lovely flowing passing move that carved open the hosts' defence.

The Scots seemed reluctant to make a challenge as Argentina stormed forward, a mistake Terry Butcher - Scotland's current assistant manager - was guilty of at the World Cup in 1986 when Maradona capitalisedto net his second, wonderful goal against England.

Over 22 years later and it was Tevez who took full advantage of some hesitant defending, feeding Jonas Gutierrez who laid the ball on first time to the onrushing Maxi; he did the rest, beating Allan McGregor with a crisp low shot that proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Argentina could even have taken the lead earlier; it took them just two minutes to fashion a goalscoring chance, Martin Demichelis getting ahead of Chris Iwelumo to meet an early corner with a header that he failed to direct on target.

Four minutes later and the visitors threatened the Scots' goal again, this time Mascherano unleashing a superb volley from 25 yards out that McGregor had to be on his toes to deal with.

Maxi then swooped, but McGregor was able to make amends on 19 minutes, the Rangers keeper denying Argentina a second with a decent stop to repel the impressive Ezequiel Lavezzi's goalbound effort.

Such was Argentina's domination of possession, Scotland's forays forward were limited in their frequency but as the first half progressed George Burley's side slowly began to find a foothold in the game.

Kris Commons, with his direct running, proved a threat on the Scotland left and his cross led to the hosts' first chance of the night, James McFadden controlling beautifully before firing goalwards on the turn.

A moment of indecision between Demichelis and Juan Pablo Carrizo nearly let McFadden in just before the half-time whistle, but the Birmingham City striker's shot was saved by the Argentine keeper.

The second half failed to live up to the expectations produced by such an entertaining first half as Argentina eased off the gas and Burley made full use of his quota of six substitutions.

Napoli striker Lavezzi went close to doubling Argentina's advantage on 52 minutes while Scotland's best chance fell to substitute Lee Miller. The Aberdeen striker had replaced Chris Iwelumo at the break but he passed up the opportunity to make a name for himself with a header from a corner that went wide of the post on 71 minutes.

It proved to be the last real moment of note and as the full-time whistle sounded, the curtain was drawn on what have been a remarkable few days in Glasgow. The place just will not be the same without Maradona.

Eurosport

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  1. Oh and by the way we have gone much more continental and classy these days...out with the meat pies and in with the deep fried pizza's! Now thats class! Mmmmm im beginning to salivate.

    From Tom, on Thu 20 Nov 6:56AM

  2. Ach well. I was hoping for something better but it does go to show that Maradona aint gonna win them anything. :) If they can only beat Scotland 1-0 when we have an average squad out on the park then Argentina arent looking like world beaters. Heh heh. Yeah early days ofcourse. I didnt get to see the game but it sounds like we at least tried a bit, which is nice. Burley I have never liked or been convinced by, especially after the Lwelumo sub n the last game instead of Boyd. I mean that was the worst idea ever. We had it with Smith and Mcleish but Burley is out of his depth I reckon, still dont think we are gonna have many good times under Burley.

    From Tom, on Thu 20 Nov 6:53AM

  3. For many years along with a lot of other England supporters I wished Scotland well if they were either in a tournament that England had not qualified for or just playing an international anyway. That was until 1996 when I happened to be travelling through Glencoe on my way to Fort William the morning after England lost the semi final to Germany. I was amazed, dissapointed and quite irritated by the actions of what must have been a fair number of chippy jocks who had been out in the night to place pacards all along Glencoe congratulating Germany on their victory. Since that day I have never holidayed in Scotland again and I have enjoyed watching Scotland's pathetic performances at international level on many ocassions, and lets be honest Scotland provide me ample opportunity to have a laugh at their expense. Last night is one of the best, England win and play well away in Germany and Scotland once again lose at home. Returning for a moment to the sad state of Jock chippiness I can only say that we all know people who live next door to a smarter, richer, more talented and hugely more successful neighbour and are sooooo jealous of them it hurts! Well done the England B team.

    From mark.menhennet@..., on Thu 20 Nov 6:51AM

  4. Slàinte ...Salud!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 3:38AM

  5. 63 Guillermo

    aye, Independiente 1 - Liverpool 0 - 1984 - okay?

    Great match.

    Agree yer comments.

    Como Argentino nunca puedas entender nuestras disputas... yo tambien quiere paz.
    Scotland quiere paz, British Gov. ...no.
    Que ocurre a Messi?
    Disculpa me Espanol.
    Seras bienvenido a me pais.
    Saludos cordiales desde Scotland.

    Felicidades amigo

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 3:36AM

  6. One of the main troubles with the Scottish squad has to do with some "internal rivalry".. most players play for Celtic or Rangers and some of them just hate eachother ... We need a Man to put them on their right tracks.
    btw. I support Celtic but don't hate Barry Ferguson when he plays for Scotland.

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 3:20AM

  7. 58
    btw I CAN SEE YOUR FINGER... THE BAD KID IS PLAYING WITH HIS AZSHOLE!
    DIRTY BOY/GIRL

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 3:03AM

  8. PLEASE, CHECK OUT COMMENT 58

    eduarda 1ST kingy of englund IS ALIVE AND KICKIN'!

    SWORDS UP!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:58AM

  9. 58

    So, we are the savages... ????

    Typical SAVAGE comment from the engleish.

    Comments like this one should be removed.
    That's why the whole world hates ye.

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:47AM

  10. ashleydc10...

    Scotland were playing with pretty much a reserve team as well, 6 regulars out. Might I add, Germany weren't exactly full strength either- without, among others, the lynchpin Ballack.

    From jamie, on Thu 20 Nov 2:44AM

  11. 62.

    Leave the alcohol in peace ... FKN RED COAT!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:40AM

  12. 59 "Do you actually talk like that? you knobs"..,

    Ay, prob?

    If ye never h`rd lal Scot yi arent British!

    Are ye posting from america... retarded?

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:38AM

  13. Hola amigos : escribo en español y no en inglés porque mi redacción en ese idioma es muy básica y mala. Mi nombre es Guillermo, soy argentino, muy fanático y seguidor de mi club, Independiente, y por supuesto también de mi selección nacional. Ayer ví el partido contra Escocia por TV y me pareció que ganamos con justicia aunque sin brillar aún, como pretende nuestro público. Quería contarles que aquí las opiniones de la gente estuvieron divididas cuando se nombró entrenador a Maradona. La idolatría por Diego es total, pero sin embargo mucha gente aún piensa que sus problemas de salud persisten y podrían llegar a afectar su trabajo y por consiguiente el rendimiento del equipo nacional. De todos modos al equipo lo vimos con más garra y actitud que la que venía mostrando con Basile y eso ya es algo positivo. Bueno, no los distraigo más, les mando un gran abrazo a ambos pueblos (escoceses e ingleses) y ojalá puedan pelearse un poco menos. El mundo actual necesita de pueblos unidos. Gracias. Saludos a todos.

    From guillermo_gabriel1974, on Thu 20 Nov 2:33AM

  14. "with out question all world loves scotish and irish but the fact every body hate @#$% english"

    Luckily for you, most people don't know their history or they would be well aware the brutish British Empire was founded and run by drug-peddling, slave-whipping Scots and ransacking Irish.

    From brunanburgh, on Thu 20 Nov 2:30AM

  15. moran taing sasunak!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:26AM

  16. I THANK YOU FOR REMOVING ALL MY PREVIOUS COMMENTS YE ENGLISH @#$%S!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:25AM

  17. To the Scots only:

    What aboot wee Strachan?...
    71.
    I guess Souness was a great player but isnae a good manager.
    Agree, a man with some b*lls.

    Do you actually talk like that? you knobs,

    From chris, on Thu 20 Nov 2:16AM

  18. SAVAGES? we Scots?
    IT sounds from 18th century man...update yerself!.

    Better still , top yourself, please, suicide by deep fried meat pie, invite a friend or two hundred and choke to death.
    now tell me that everyone loves you, fooking savages. have a nice heart attack and @#$% off
    see the finger?

    From chris, on Thu 20 Nov 2:13AM

  19. via bye!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:11AM

  20. WHAT ABOOT MY PREVIOUS REPLY TO 54?
    YER ENGLISH MODERATORS!

    From willflet, on Thu 20 Nov 2:11AM
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