GERMANY: Argentine fans play down the fallout over Tevez verbal attack on Jens Lehmann.

Record ID: 447740

  • Title: GERMANY: Argentine fans play down the fallout over Tevez verbal attack on Jens Lehmann.
  • Date: 29th June 2006
  • Summary: WIDE OF EXTERIOR OF OLYMPIC STADIUM WITH "NAZI ERA" STATUES OF MAN AND HORSE
  • Embargoed: 14th July 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5GOT2N4ZAPH2NSNQMV7TUBHQ8
  • Story Text: The mood off the pitch was tense on Thursday (June 29) ahead of Argentina's match against Germany. The Argentine striker Carlos Tevez has said that if it comes to a penalty shoot out, then he would aim for the German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's head.
    "I'll aim for his head," Tevez was quoted as saying in the German tabloid newspaper 'Bild' on Thursday.
    The German tabloid called this a "scandal" and referred to Tevez as "Scarface", but fans from both sides played this down in Berlin, where the match will be taking place on Friday.
    "I think Tevez is doing this to get a reaction from Germany, but Tevez at the bottom of his heart as all Argentinians know is a nice guy, and we are the best team in the world," Leonardo Cepe from Buenos Aires said. "And we are going to win."
    "You always have to have a few fighting words to try to intimidate the opponent psychologically," Stephan Nurub from Berlin said, "and we have actually had a few players, saying we are not scared of Argentina, and we shouldn't be, because if you are scared then you just lose. Tevez is just trying to create a few vibes. If he were to shoot a penalty shot, I don't think he would aim for his Lehmann's head, I think it is just all talk."
    Argentina striker Carlos Tevez had warned already warned Germany on Tuesday that they would have to up their game in the World Cup quarter-final in Berlin on Friday.
    Tevez said great players rise to the occasion in big matches, that Argentina had many such players and Germany would have to show more than they have so far in the tournament to beat them.
    Tevez has made three appearances in the tournament as a substitute, scoring in the 6-0 rout of Serbia & Montenegro, Argentina's second group game.
    He also came on in the 0-0 draw with Netherlands and when Argentina beat Mexico 2-1 after extra time in the second round in Leipzig on Saturday.
    Coach Jose Pekerman is expected once again to keep Tevez and teenager Lionel Messi, his two most skilled ball players, in reserve on the bench and start with Hernan Crespo, who has scored in all three of his appearances and Javier Saviola up front.
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