CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Prior to the decisive penalty kicks of Germany’s heated 2006 quarterfinal victory over Argentina, German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann employed an unusual tactic. He pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his sweaty sock and read simple notes on the tendencies of Argentine players.“Riquelme left high; Crespo long run/right, short run/left; Heinze left low; Ayala long wait, long run right; Messi left; Aimar long wait left; Rodriguez left,” it read, according to The Times of London. FIFA says the list was later auctioned for charity. There also remains a theory, though, that the note was blank, designed merely to psych out Argentina.
Whatever it was, it worked. Lehmann made two saves and Germany won the game on PKs 4-2. The decision was so tense, the teams wound up fighting afterward.Now, Germany, on the eve of another quarterfinals clash with Argentina here Saturday, is vowing to take the tactic a step further.
Following the lead of some European professional teams, the Germans may employ “technology” to allow their goalkeeper to quickly scout potential Argentina shooters. Speculation is that there will be a handheld device that can quickly offer video replay of potential Argentina shooters.
There may only be 60 to 90 seconds available to scout all of the shooters, so it would be rapid-fire footage of past penalty kick attempts. The problem is which players would Argentine coach Diego Maradona send out?
German coach Joachim Low said Friday that, with Argentina now featuring so many powerful scorers, a humble scrap of paper in the sock is not enough. He said his side will have to employ deeper scouting techniques.
“In 2006, it was easier for us,” he said. “There was just one sheet of paper. And this time I realize we need to have a hefty brochure because there are so many who are perfectly strong to take the [penalty kick].
“We have to be very careful for the candidates and prepare a number of detailed information.”
Penalty kicks are used to determine a winner if the score is still tied after two 15-minute extra time periods. Making a save is very difficult. To do it, a goalkeeper needs to guess correctly where the shot is headed – or the shooter needs to flub the kick.
Germany has never lost a penalty shootout at the World Cup, an aura of invincibility that it wants opponents to recall during the tense, lonely moments of the competition. It’s won four times since the concept’s introduction in 1982, including the dramatic victory over Argentina.
Four years later, Argentina is no longer bitter about Lehmann’s note. It’s actually respectful of the strategy.
“In that moment it was a very smart move on their part, saving a piece of paper to know who was going to take the kick,” said Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero. “This time we have to be well prepared for everything.”
The gamesmanship in the run-up to this game has been enjoyable. The Germans have a well-earned reputation of playing mind games – hence the belief by many that nothing was on that sheet. On Friday, Low did not hesitate to discuss preparation for penalty kicks, which suggests he wants the Argentines to believe the Germans are ready.
“It’s just luxury,” Low said. “It just comes down to nerves really.”
What’s more nerve-wracking than thinking your opponent knows something about your habits and then wondering whether to switch to a less comfortable shot or stick with your original idea?
The advantage in a penalty kick is always with the shooter, unless the shooter is no longer confident in his plan. No one knows what effect Lehmann’s list and antics had on the Argentine shooters.
“It was like a Hitchcock movie,” then-German coach Juergen Klinsmann declared at the time.
Lehmann said he “never in a million years” thought that note would be such a big deal. “I was going to throw it in the bin afterward, but I had second thoughts. It’ll be a nice souvenir for my kids,” he told FIFA.com this week.
He said if Saturday’s game gets to penalty kicks, he hopes current German keeper Manuel Neuer pulls out a sheet of paper again.
“I certainly hope so! Maybe there’s something to simply pulling out a note, and the takers might start thinking, ‘Oh Lord, here we go again,’ ” Lehmann said. “Maybe it’ll be enough to beat Argentina.”
