All eyes on Argentina versus England
June 7, 2002
YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) - Favourites Argentina take on England in a clash that has left co-hosts Japan jittery that the much-touted English soccer hooligan will make his World Cup entry.
With one team effectively out of the tournament and none through to the second round yet, Friday's match at the Sapporo Dome on Hokkaido island will be critical for both sides in their fight to survive what has been dubbed the Group of Death.
The traditional rivalry between England and Argentina spans an ill-tempered clash won by England at the 1966 finals, the 1982 Falklands (Malvinas) Islands war and Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal in 1986.
As group F leaders, following a 1-0 win over Nigeria, Argentina can seal their place in the second round by taking all three points and deal a bodyblow to England's hopes of making progress. England drew 1-1 with Sweden in their opener.
One week into the tournament, there has been no fan violence in what is Asia's first World Cup and the first hosted by two nations.
In one sign of tension, police in Sapporo arrested four England fans overnight -- two for taking soccer kits displayed in a sports bar, one on suspicion of cheating a convenience store salesman out of change and one after a fight with a Japanese man.
But FIFA spokesman Keith Cooper said on Thursday that the latest reports from Sapporo suggested that all was calm.
Security is tight in Japan's fifth largest city, which has a population of 1.8 million. More than 7,000 police officers are on duty helped by 1,400 colleagues from outside the island.
The other group F contenders, Sweden and Nigeria, open the action in Kobe, also in Japan, at 3 p.m. (0630 GMT). Spain play Paraguay in group B in Chonju in South Korea at 6 p.m. (0900).
CHAMPIONS FRANCE STRUGGLE, SAUDIS ELIMINATED
Saudi Arabia, thrashed 8-0 by Germany in their opening game, saw all hope of the second round fade when Cameroon beat them 1-0 on Thursday.
Embattled World and European champions France, beaten by 1-0 by rank outsiders Senegal in their opening game, drew 0-0 against Uruguay after striker Thierry Henry was sent off for a reckless challenge.
Deprived of playmaker Zinedine Zidane through injury, France have yet to score and play Denmark on June 11 needing at least two goals for a place in the second round.
Tensions between Argentina and England stretch back to the 1966, the only time England have won the World Cup.
The Wembley quarter-final was marred by a series of cynical fouls from the Argentines. Their captain Antonio Rattin was sent off nine minutes before halftime for arguing over the booking of a colleague and took 10 interminable minutes to leave the field.
In 1986, the war four years earlier over the Falklands (Malvinas) Islands overshadowed the quarter-final in Mexico City, when Argentina won 2-1.
Diego Maradona scored once with his hand, the infamous "Hand of God" goal, and again after a dazzling run through the heart of the England defence.
In France in 1998, the present England captain David Beckham was sent off in the second round for a petulant kick at Diego Simeone. Although their defenders performed heroically, England were eventually eliminated on penalties.
Beckham and England striker Michael Owen, whose goal four years ago against Argentina was voted second behind Maradona's second strike against England in a FIFA poll, have hardly lowered the pre-match temperature this week.
"As Maradona said about their team, they're cunning players," Beckham said. "If they can use things to gain the advantage, then they'll do that. We're professionals, we wouldn't expect our players to play certain tricks."
Owen said Argentina played a different style of football with "a lot more shirt-pulling and grabbing".