Pekerman sees improved Argentina against Germany

LEIPZIG, June 25 (Reuters) Argentina will be an improved team when they play Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals in Berlin on Friday, coach Jose Pekerman said.

''When you progress you meet complicated rivals. We're going to get stronger because we achieved what we wanted,'' Pekerman said of Argentina's 2-1 win after extra time over Mexico in the second last night.

''We will be able to improve as in another match one starts from zero and we believe we have the means to do so,'' Pekerman told the post-match news conference.

''The physical response was very good and the team gained strength from the (attacking) options. With Argentina the possibility of scoring is always latent,'' added Pekerman whose team had only three days' rest after their last group game, a 0-0 draw with Netherlands on Wednesday.

Pekerman pointed to the need for Argentina to improve their game control, having been overrun at times in midfield and cut off from their attack by a Mexico side that improved markedly after a disappointing group stage.

Mexico defended in numbers and moved the ball quickly across the midfield to the wings, tactics that left Argentina playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme stranded because his midfield partners were busy breaking up the Mexicans' game.

Riquelme found himself playing too deep and he often passed square or back just to keep the ball in Argentine possession when he should have been probing further up field.

NO FINISH Then, when Argentina produced their best attacks, they were unable to finish with a score.

''When we were at our best we weren't able to score, with the substitutions we scored but then we didn't manage to control the ball. That's something we must improve on. We should have settled the match more clearly,'' Pekerman said.

Argentina's winner came out of the blue, a superb dipping volley by Maxi Rodriguez from 25 metres that went inside the top far corner, a goal that had little to do with the tactics on view even if it was laid on by an astute crossfield ball from left back Juan Pablo Sorin.

Pekerman replied to criticism of Argentina's lack of control by pointing to Mexico's fine performance in an evenly balanced match by saying: ''A World Cup is not a bed of roses, all kinds of things happen.'' Reuters PDS VV1720