Argentina ready for clash against Serbs (16 Jun 2006 20:07 GMT)
Coach Jose Pekerman announced just one change to his starting line-up against Serbia & Montenegro, bringing on Porto's attacking midfielder Luis "Lucho" Gonzalez on the right to replace Esteban Cambiasso.
"We consider Serbia-Montenegro to be a very tough opponent, we've always thought that," Pekerman said.
Meanwhile, the Serbs are reeling from the loss of Vidic for the rest of the tournament after the Manchester United defender tore knee ligaments in training, but the Argentinians insisted that made little difference to their approach to the game.
"Argentina is ready to play a great game against Serbia, whatever form their team takes," Pekerman said.
"We must be thinking of collecting three points," full-back Roberto Ayala said. "We must draw out the best of the strengths we showed against Ivory Coast."
"Serbia won't be as physically strong, but they have players who are technically very accomplished," cautioned midfielder Pablo Aimar.
"I think that they (Serbia) will play more offensively because they lost the first game, they have to win the second one," Julio Cruz said, who partners Stankovic at Inter Milan. "Dejan is the most complete kind of player you find in football. But I don't know if he can play for this team the same way as he plays for Inter."
Argentina squad: Abbondanzieri; Burdisso, Ayala, Heinze, Sorín; Maxi, Mascherano, González; Riquelme; Saviola, Crespo.
source : ABC/AFP