Updated: Nov. 14, 2005
'Argentina need to cheat more', advises Ruggeri
BUENOS AIRES, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Former Argentina defender Oscar Ruggeri said on Monday that the current side needs to indulge in more time-wasting and gamesmanship.
Ruggeri, who played at two World Cups under Carlos Bilardo, a coach famous for his ruthless win-at-all-costs approach, said his country had become too European in their attitudes.
His comments came after Argentina conceded two late goals and lost 3-2 to England in a friendly on Saturday.
'They say that the Argentine player throws himself to the ground and wastes time and that the balls disappear when they're winning,' he said in a radio interview.
'But at international level, these little things can help you win the match and get through to the next round and we have to work on them.
'The coach (Jose Pekerman) has to spend three days working on these things. If they give away a free kick, the player should lie on the ground, so they bring on the doctor and the stretcher to slow down the game.'
'We have to slow the Europeans down,' he added. 'If there's three minutes to go and you're about to qualify, you don't want to continue playing on equal terms.'
Ruggeri, a rugged central defender, was in Argentina's World Cup winning team in 1986 as well as the 1990 team which finished runners-up and the 1994 team which was knocked out in the second round.
Ruggeri, who won 98 caps, then took up coaching but was less successful.
He resigned as coach of Mexico's UAG after losing his first six games in early 2003, then took charge of Independiente in his homeland but resigned less than four months later after being jeered and insulted by fans at a home game.
In 2004, he went to Spanish second division club Elche but was fired last May after 20 games. He returned to Mexico and joined America, the country's richest club, and this time lasted only six games.
