Argentina wait to name strikers against Nigeria

June 1, 2002

KASHIMA, Japan, June 1 (Reuters) - Argentina, with coach Marcelo Bielsa not saying whether he will play Gabriel Batistuta or Hernan Crespo up front, begin their quest for a third World Cup in a tough group F opener against Nigeria on Sunday.

A winning start is essential to any side aspiring to reach the latter stages and the more so in a group where matches against England and Sweden are next on the agenda.

World champions France found out in the tournament's opening game on Friday that playing against African sides can be a tough assignment, losing 1-0 to newcomers Senegal.

Argentina well remember their defeat to Cameroon as they began the defence of their world crown in 1990 -- a 1-0 loss regarded as one of the greatest shocks in soccer history.

The Argentines are indeed wary of the unpredictable Nigerians and fear they may catch them at their best. The African side have tended to start tournaments well before losing momentum.

"They're complicated," said playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron. "They've matured a lot, the majority of their players play abroad. Perhaps they lack tactical discipline but they're very skilful."

Nigeria are capable of repeating their shock start to the 1998 finals in France when they came from behind to upset Spain 3-2. Argentina also need to exorcise the ghost of a shock defeat by Nigeria in the 1996 Olympic final.

Half the Argentine side likely to start the match played in Daniel Passarella's Olympic team, including key players like Diego Simeone, Ariel Ortega, Roberto Ayala, Crespo and Javier Zanetti.

Nigeria's lanky striker Nwankwo Kanu, tricky playmaker Jay Jay Okocha, veteran centre-back Taribo West and speedy left back Celestine Babayaro were in their country's gold medal-winning side.

BETTER MEMORIES

Batistuta has better memories of Argentina's only other meeting with Nigeria, a 2-1 victory in Boston in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup finals.

Claudio Caniggia, who is also at his third finals but unavailable on Sunday through injury, scored both Argentina's goals in that match.

Ortega has the kind of ball tricks Bielsa's side will need to break down a strong, athletic defence.

"Some of us were left a bit hurt (by the Olympic defeat) because we had the gold medal almost in our hands and right at the end we lost," Ortega said.

"But that was another story and now there's a nicer one which is a World Cup and let's hope it's our turn," he said.

"Nigeria, physically, are very good, they have their game, they're very fast, but we have to think of the players we have and try to do what we've always done,which is to go out and put pressure (on them) from the first minute."

Nigeria's coach of a few months, Festus Onigbinde, has to prove that his post-African Nations Cup cleanout after Nigeria's semifinal elimination this year was worth it.

Forward Julius Aghahowa said they would not be intimidated by the big names in Argentina's side when they meet in Ibaraki.

"I don't want to know what name or face is behind the football. We don't go out to look for big names or big stars in football," he said.

"We can see that there are other teams in this group...What we are after is victory in all games."

Probable teams:

Argentina (3-4-3): 12-Pablo Cavallero; 4-Mauricio Pochettino, 2-Roberto Ayala, 6-Walter Samuel; 8-Javier Zanetti, 14-Diego Simeone, 11-Juan Sebastian Veron, 3-Juan Pablo Sorin; 23-Ariel Ortega, 19-Hernan Crespo, 18-Kily Gonzalez.

Nigeria: (4-3-3) 1-Ike Shorunmu; 3-Celestine Babayaro, 6-Taribo West, 5-Isaac Okoronkwo, 16-Efe Sodje, 2-Joseph Yobo, 4-Nwankwo Kanu, 10-Jay Jay Okocha, 9-Bartholomew Ogbeche, 17-Julius Aghahowa, 7-Pius Ikedia

Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)

Linesmen: Frederic Arnault (France)

Heiner Muller (Germany)