Both players and coaches had something to say at the end of the game about a match that could have gone either way.

Coaches:

Jose PEKERMAN (ARG)
We’re pleased because we did what we needed to do. We were up against very tough opponents, who performed not like a side making their first World Cup appearance but like a team capable of achieving real success (here in Germany). It was a good overall performance from my boys. We defended when we had to defend, we created openings, and we took our chances when they came. We worked really hard for this win, that’s why it means so much to me.

There were a number of plus points, (Roberto) Abbondanzieri and Hernan Crespo for example, and I thought Crespo’s goal was excellent. But there were also a few negatives, and we’ll be working on those. However, winning our first match should give us the confidence boost we need to keep getting better.

Are Riquelme and Cambiasso guaranteed a place in the starting eleven? No, nobody is. You select the players that you think will best suit a particular game. If that doesn’t happen, then you make changes. I took Crespo off because he’d worked his socks off and I thought that Saviola and Palacio would help us create more opportunities, but for a variety of reasons that wasn’t the case. But I repeat, the most important thing was to win and that’s what we did.

Henri MICHEL (CIV)
: I’m not angry about the defeat but I am a little disappointed. We created a lot of goalscoring opportunities but we couldn’t take them. We paid a very heavy price for our lack of experience, at this level any mistakes you make are invariably punished.

We played a good deal better in the second half, but we weren’t clinical enough. Did we deserve to lose? The truth is that you shouldn’t really think about what might have happened, the fact of the matter is that they scored twice and we lost 2-1.

The players are also a bit deflated, but this is a World Cup, not a walk in the park, and there are still two more games to play. We’ll have to wait and see how we play against the Netherlands, but we’re determined to put on a good display. It’s not over yet.

Players:

Javier SAVIOLA (ARG), Budweiser Man of the Match
To score a goal on my World Cup debut is a dream come true. I had waited so long for that moment that when I saw the ball go in, I didn’t know what to do! The adrenalin kicked in and it was a real blur! I have to thank my team-mate Juan Riquelme, who set me up with a perfect pass. I didn’t swap shirts at the end of the game because I want to take it home and give it to my mum. What were my other impressions of the game? It was a fantastic feeling when I walked out onto the pitch because the stadium was absolutely full. For now, I want to enjoy the moment and tomorrow we can start thinking about the Serbia and Montenegro game.

Juan RIQUELME (ARG)
I’m pleased that I could play my part with the two assists, but I don’t feel as though there is any extra pressure on me. After all, it’s only a game. We deserved our win. Perhaps we sat back a little in the second half, but we were 2-0 up and we felt comfortable, so that was bound to happen. Their goal came out of nothing, and after they scored they did put us under pressure. But people should also bear in mind how well we played and in the end I don’t think they created a clear-cut chance. We got the win, and that was the most important thing.

Juan Pablo SORIN (ARG)
We knew that it was going to be a tough game, but our experience saw us through. This win really sets us up for the rest of the tournament. It was amazing to see so many Argentinian supporters at the game, and that gave me a real lift. In fact, it was the only way I could cope with the heat and fatigue by the end of the game. But the crucial thing was to take all three points. Now we can relax and we have to get ourselves ready for Serbia and Montenegro.

Hernan CRESPO (ARG)
I’m pleased that I scored, because that’s my job. The way the team plays relies on me being in the right place at the right time to take my chances. It’s never easy to start the World Cup with a win, because everybody is so anxious to do well. Tactically, maybe we lost our way a little in the second half, but we made up for it by battling hard. In a way this win is the culmination of four years’ hard work, and you do feel that pressure when you go out onto the pitch. But we can just take it one game at a time now, and look to make progress.

Javier MASCHERANO (ARG)
It was vital to start with a win, and that’s what we’ve done. From here we can try to improve and really try to get into top gear. But because this was our first game, we have to be happy with the win.

Roberto ABBONDANZIERI (ARG)
This game was our first final, if you like, and we’ve got six more finals ahead of us if we want to win the Trophy. At times we struggled with the pace of some of their players, but in the end they didn’t cause us too many problems.

Abdoulaye MEITE (CIV)
We played against a great footballing nationand it was a good opportunity for us to present ourselves. We have eventually arrived at the World Cup.

Didier DROGBA (CIV)
The difference was Argentina scored the goals when they had to and we didn’t, that was the big difference. I’m not happy with the defeat, football is not an individual sport and therefore I cannot enjoy my goal that much. We missed a big opportunity, we still have to learn. I regret that we were a little weak in the defence and we have a young team.

Bakary KONE (CIV)
There are still two games to play and it’s a very hard group, we’re still motivated to go through, we’ll try our best and I’m still confident for the next two games and it’s just one game we lost.

Bonaventure KALOU (CIV)
There was not a big difference between the two teams, only one goal. Experience was the difference. Now we have no choice, we need a perfect game against the Netherlands. It does not affect our confidence, we still have a lot of hope.

Arthur BOKA (CIV)
The next time we are going to be even more motivated. I think we played a little naively and we were under pressure to win.

Source: WCoffsite Players and coaches