Instead of involving himself in the paranoia over David Beckham's injury by touching a newspaper image of his captain's foot, Sven-Goran Eriksson might have been better served sticking more pins in the Argentina team photo.
Germany ... 0, Argentina ... 1
Even with a side made up of reserves and wannabes, the Argentinians proved themselves a class above Germany, winning last night's game in Stuttgart with a classic strike less than two minutes into the second half.
Argentina's side was unrecognisable from the team that eased England out of the 1998 World Cup on penalties in St Etienne and offered only a faint impression of the line-up that is expected to face Eriksson's side in the second game of this summer's tournament.
Diego Simeone, the man forever linked with David Beckham's sending-off in 1998, was left kicking his heels, so to speak, on the bench, and Claudio Caniggia was a late withdrawal after a training-ground injury.
Argentina were also missing central defender Roberto Ayala, midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, record goalscorer Gabriel Batistuta and fellow striker Hernan Crespo.
That meant that an already-weakened Argentina side were able to field only three of the men who faced England in France four years ago: Matias Almeyda, Claudio Lopez and Javier Zanetti.
They do, however, possess talented cover for all positions, which is why they are ranked the second-best side in the world, and they comfortably held off Germany's clumsy efforts to bludgeon their way to an early breakthrough in the opening 20 minutes.
Then, with two outstanding pieces of skill midway through the first half, they sent a warning to England about the swiftness of their counter-attacking.
First, with a delightful turn, Pablo Aimar constructed a chance that the German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann just managed to turn away with his left foot. Soon afterwards Claudio Lopez headed an outstanding chance over.
Sadly, the promising Aimar, 22, who is becoming an increasing influence in this side, was forced to give way due to injury 10 minutes before half-time.
Lehmann, winning only his 14th cap at the age of 32, because of the consistency of Oliver Kahn, had kept his team in a remarkably sparky friendly in the first half. But he was powerless when Gustavo Lopez crossed three minutes into the second half and Juan Pablo Sorin got his header in before the German defence could react.
The goal had been on the cards for most of the evening. The German daily Bild had likened Argentina's team to their traditional dance, the tango, sensuous and passionate. And their passion to make a pre-World Cup strike against a German side that always grows in major events was obvious.
Germany, though, had a chance to equalise when they won a free-kick on the edge of the box in the 70th minute. But Michael Ballack, their new star, failed to make amends for a disappointing performance by dragging his kick wide.
The two sides have fought many classic battles including two World Cup finals but, overall, last night's clash was a rather dull affair with few highlights and five yellow cards.
And Argentina might have to pay a high price for the morale boost as, apart from Aimar's injury, midfielder Marcelo Gallardo had to be carried off the field after a challenge from German midfielder Jens Jeremies midway through the second half.
It was not clear how serious his injury was.
GERMANY (3-4-1-2): Lehmann; Linke (Baumann, h-t), Nowotny, Metzelder; Frings (Max, 82), Jeremies (Kehl, 75), Ramelow, Bohme (Ricken, h-t); Ballack; Bierhoff (Jancker, 75), Klose.
ARGENTINA (3-5-2): Cavallero; Quiroga, Pochettino, Samuel; Zanetti, Almeyda, Aimar (Gallardo, 35; Solari, 55), Sorin, C Gonzalez (Placente, 88); G Lopez (Saviola, 75), C Lopez.
Referee: ME Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain).
Guardian Service
