Germany grateful for Riquelme recital

Juan Roman Riquelme gave Germany's midfield a masterclass in timing and technique as Argentina drew 2-2 with the Confederations Cup hosts.

German coach Juergen Klinsmann, as impressed as everyone else among the 42,000 full house at the Frankenstadion, was just grateful for the free tuition.

"We added two young players to our line-up in the second half in Mike Hanke and Marco Engelhardt so that they could see what it's like to play against someone like Riquelme," Klinsmann said.

"Riquelme was perfect, faultless, and our players have to learn from that."

After being disowned by Barcelona, the Spanish club who signed him from Boca Juniors three years ago, Riquelme has re-established himself as one of the game's craftiest midfielders during a two-year loan spell at far less glamorous Villarreal. His form last season propelled Villarreal into the Champions League and they have just completed a deal to make his transfer from Barca permanent.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman decided to build his team for the Confederations Cup around Riquelme and he has responded with three increasingly influential displays to take the team through to the semi-finals.

With Michael Ballack starting on the bench, he was peerless in midfield against Germany on Tuesday night.

He continually outfoxed his opponents with sharp angled passes around the penalty area, scored a wonderful free-kick for the first equaliser and raised the tempo of the game single-handedly as Argentina chased victory in the second half.

"No, I don't see myself as the leader," said the shy 26-year-old after picking up the man of the match award.

"The coach and my team-mates have a lot of confidence in me and that's nice, of course.

"I'm just pleased to see us playing such good football as we did in the second half. We played very well."

Right track

A draw was not enough to deprive Germany of first place in Group A, leaving second-placed Argentina to face the Mexico in the last four, but Pekerman was more concerned with the performance than the result.

"After seeing that second-half display I'm convinced we're on the right track for the World Cup," he said. "That was a very high level of football."