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<SPAN class=art-title2>Albiceleste rediscover winning touch</SPAN> <TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=5 width=150 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Esteban Cambiasso (L) runs to celebrate with Javier Saviola after the Barcelona striker sealed an impressive 1-0 win for the Albiceleste over FIFA World Cup finalists France.
</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>Frank Fife
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<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">08 Feb 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>For some sides, the narrowest of victories in a friendly in which they created very few chances would be a cause for concern.
For Argentina, however, the manner of their win away to France on Wednesday night was secondary to the importance of a competitive victory. Not altogether surprisingly either, given that it was the first win of Alfio Basile's second spell in charge and came on the back of consecutive defeats to Brazil and Spain.
"Up until now we've only played against renowned international teams, and so when we take into account what France represents, the satisfaction is double," a composed Basile said afterwards. "That was evident in the post-match reaction of my players, who were singing and cheering in the dressing room. That's the exuberance of youth for you," he added.
Over and above the quality of their opponents, Coco, as the coach is known in footballing circles, had others reasons to be pleased. Read on as FIFA.com takes a more detailed look at what conclusions the Albiceleste can draw from their duel with the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ runners-up.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Argentina coach Alfio Basile said that despite the quality of the opposition and the fact they were playing away from home, his side "needed to win". </SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>Charles Platiau</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Change of direction
In terms of pure match stats, Argentina's victory ended a run of eight months without a win.
You have to go back to that scintillating exhibition of football against Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen at the group stage of Germany 2006 to find the last time the Albiceleste won a match in regulation time. That was followed by an extra-time win over Mexico and penalty heartbreak against Germany, before the aforementioned reverses against Brazil and Spain.
"We needed to win, because our tradition always demands that of us. Today I sent out a more experienced team to face very good opponents. We didn't leave them any space and pressurised them well," Coco explained after the game.
For the assignment in Paris, where Argentina had not won since 1974, the coach reverted to the nucleus of the Germany 2006 side to get back on the winning trail. Roberto Abbondanzieri again showed his dependability in goal, Roberto Ayala left no one in any doubt that he continues to be an indispensable figure in the centre of defence, while Herman Crespoand Javier Saviola showed once more that they are capable of troubling even the best rearguards when they share attacking duties.
As for changes in the line-up, Basile welcome ba
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<SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Esteban Cambiasso (L) runs to celebrate with Javier Saviola after the Barcelona striker sealed an impressive 1-0 win for the Albiceleste over FIFA World Cup finalists France.</SPAN><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(AFP)</SPAN> <SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>Frank Fife
</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">(FIFA.com)</SPAN> <SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">08 Feb 2007</SPAN>
<SPAN class=art-text>For some sides, the narrowest of victories in a friendly in which they created very few chances would be a cause for concern.
For Argentina, however, the manner of their win away to France on Wednesday night was secondary to the importance of a competitive victory. Not altogether surprisingly either, given that it was the first win of Alfio Basile's second spell in charge and came on the back of consecutive defeats to Brazil and Spain.
"Up until now we've only played against renowned international teams, and so when we take into account what France represents, the satisfaction is double," a composed Basile said afterwards. "That was evident in the post-match reaction of my players, who were singing and cheering in the dressing room. That's the exuberance of youth for you," he added.
Over and above the quality of their opponents, Coco, as the coach is known in footballing circles, had others reasons to be pleased. Read on as FIFA.com takes a more detailed look at what conclusions the Albiceleste can draw from their duel with the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ runners-up.<TABLE id=IMGTAB height=150 cellSpacing=3 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left summary="" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR id=TRCAP><TD vAlign=bottom align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_normal>Argentina coach Alfio Basile said that despite the quality of the opposition and the fact they were playing away from home, his side "needed to win". </SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRSOURCE><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>(REUTERS)</SPAN></TD></TR><TR id=TRAUTHOR><TD align=left><SPAN class=textblack11px_bold>Charles Platiau</SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Change of directionIn terms of pure match stats, Argentina's victory ended a run of eight months without a win.
You have to go back to that scintillating exhibition of football against Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen at the group stage of Germany 2006 to find the last time the Albiceleste won a match in regulation time. That was followed by an extra-time win over Mexico and penalty heartbreak against Germany, before the aforementioned reverses against Brazil and Spain.
"We needed to win, because our tradition always demands that of us. Today I sent out a more experienced team to face very good opponents. We didn't leave them any space and pressurised them well," Coco explained after the game.
For the assignment in Paris, where Argentina had not won since 1974, the coach reverted to the nucleus of the Germany 2006 side to get back on the winning trail. Roberto Abbondanzieri again showed his dependability in goal, Roberto Ayala left no one in any doubt that he continues to be an indispensable figure in the centre of defence, while Herman Crespoand Javier Saviola showed once more that they are capable of troubling even the best rearguards when they share attacking duties.
As for changes in the line-up, Basile welcome ba
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