Argentina out to leave England in their slipstream
June 4, 2002
NARAHA, Japan, June 3 (AFP) -- Argentina are determined to leave Group F rivals England in their slipstream when the two former world champions face off in Sapporo on Friday.
Having started their World Cup adventure with a 1-0 defeat of Nigeria the Argentinians are in the driving seat in the Group of Death whereas England have to play catch-up after a draw with Sweden.
And the Latin Americans don't intend to allow the gap to close.
"We played well against Nigeria and we're bubbling with confidence," insisted defender Diego Placente, who stepped into the shoes of Roberto Ayala when the latter injured himself in the warm-up against the Super Eagles.
Placente said Marcelo Bielsa's side were ready to keep their recent good streak going against Sven-Goran Eriksson's England, who lost the 1986 quarter-final to a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina and then crashed out on penalties four years ago in France.
"It's great to be playing England - it's one of the classics. It's like it's a derby in the Argentina versus Brazil mould," said the 25-year-old Bayer Leverkusen defender.
"We intend to put the pressure on as normal, move the ball around and take the game to them, while at the back it will be man for man marking," he vowed.
But he added that the Argentines had the "utmost respect for a tough adversary - and we will have to be very careful with them."
Skipper Ayala remains a big doubt for the England game with a left muscle strain following a scan, squad spokesman Andres Ventura said Monday afternoon.
"Ayala has a tightening of the back left thigh muscle - we will be checking on his progress daily," said Ventura.
If Valencia's Ayala does not make it Juan Sebastian Veron will again wear the captain's armband.
Placente said the fact that England only managed to draw their first game handed the Argentines a big psychological advantage as they are out on their own at the top of the toughest group.
But he added that also had a downside in that he felt sure England would not sit back and play for a draw.
The Argentine squad missed England's game as they were heading back for their headquarters at Naraha after their own match and Bielsa has yet to set thew squad down and talk tactics for Friday.
Placente said, meanwhile, that Nigeria had been disappointing.
"Perhaps I expected a more physical approach from Nigeria - but the pressure we put on them meant they were unable to play their game."
England can expect more of the same.