Petkovic stays silent over future plans

Serbia and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic has put off any decision regarding his future until after his team’s final World Cup game against the Ivory Coast.

Petkovic’s men suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Argentina in Gelsenkirchen on Friday, as Maxi Rodriguez scored a first-half brace and Esteban Cambiasso, Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi completed the rout.

The defeat, coupled with Holland’s 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast, signalled the end of Serbia and Montenegro’s hopes of qualification from Group C.

Petkovic is expected to come under intense pressure to stand down when his side returns home after their final game against Ivory Coast on Wednesday, but for the time being at least the 60-year-old is staying put.

“I understand the questions about what I will do next,” Petkovic said. “Will I step down? Will I resign from the helm of our national team?

“But we are still here at the world’s biggest football event and there is still football to be played no matter what the result.

“We have one game left against the Ivory Coast and it would be unacceptable behaviour from me to leave the team immediately before a match.

“All the crucial decisions will be made when we get back home because this is not the right time,” he added.

Petkovic refused to blame his players for the dismal display against Jose Pekerman’s much-fancied Argentinian outfit, instead insisting that he should shoulder the burden of responsibility.

The Serbo-Montenegrin coach encouraged his players to adopt a more attacking philosophy after their opening 1-0 defeat to Holland.

And Petkovic admitted it had been a mistake to abandon their defensive instincts in a game that also saw striker Mateja Kezman sent off for a two-footed tackle on Javier Mascherano in the 65th minute.

“I’m the one to blame (for the defeat) because for the first time in my career I disregarded my own thoughts on strategy and instead allowed myself to be led by public opinion,” Petkovic said.

“Some colleagues and journalists in our homeland said we were without courage and that we had no attacking movement against Holland.

“This is what happens when the best players of our country go into an open game against the mighty Argentina on one of their best days.

“So was I right to close all the gates and create three great chances against Marco van Basten’s team, or is it better to play an open game against Jose Pekerman’s squad and concede six goals?

“I decided for the first time in my career to move away from my opinion and to listen to others – that’s what I’m ashamed of.”

Petkovic has been in charge of Serbia and Montenegro since July 2003. They conceded just one goal in qualifying for the World Cup finals in Germany.