Ayala could be fit to face England

June 3, 2002

NARAHA, Japan, June 3 (Reuters) - Argentina captain Roberto Ayala could be fit to play against England in their World Cup group F match in Sapporo on Friday.

Ayala was replaced in the Argentine defence at the last minute on Sunday after feeling a sharp pain in his thigh while warming up for his country's opener against Nigeria in Ibaraki.

"The team doctor (Donato Villani) told me that he has a pulled muscle at the back of his left thigh," Argentina's press officer Coco Ventura said.

"The possibility that he might play (against England) will depend on daily check-ups," he told Reuters.

Diego Placente replaced Ayala in the match, a 1-0 victory that put Argentina top of the group two points ahead of England and Sweden, who drew 1-1.

Placente played on the left of the back three with Walter Samuel moving to the middle to replace Ayala as sweeper.

Ayala was sweeper in the Argentine side that eliminated England from the 1998 World Cup finals.

Juan Sebastian Veron, who will also be facing England for the second time in a World Cup finals, wore the captain's armband against Nigeria.

Veteran winger Claudio Caniggia looks like achieving his target of being fit for the England match, even though he is unlikely to be picked ahead of Ariel Ortega on the right of the Argentine attack.

Canniggia, coming back from a knee injury, did some hard running during Argentina's morning training session along with the other players who did not play on Sunday.

The first choice players did more leisurely jogging and stretching in a relaxed atmosphere following their winning start to the tournament.