April 23, 2002

BUENOS AIRES, April 23 (AFP) -- Argentinian football federationpresident Julio Grondona has confirmed the national side would be using Lazio's training facilities before flying to Japan for the World Cup finals.

Grondona said Marcelo Bielsa's team would use the facilities of the Roman club from May 6 before going to the May 31 to June 30 World Cup where they will meet England, Nigeria and Sweden in first round Group F.

"Up to now, we have only confirmed we will be training in Europe from May 6," Grondona told a Buenos Aires radio station. "I confirm now the players will start to train at Italian club Lazio and they fly to Japan from there."

Most of Bielsa's men play in European football and Juan Pablo Sorin also plays outside the country at Brazilian club Cruzeiro. River Plate striker Ariel Ortega, who plays for River Plate, is one of the few home-based stars.

Grondona said they were considering another friendly match before the finals with it likely to be held in Japan days before the event starts. Argentina beat Germany 1-0 in Stuttgart in their last warm up last Wednesday with Sorin scoring the goal.