"It's going to be a match similar to the second half (on Friday)," striker Gabriel Batistuta told reporters at Argentina's World Cup retreat.

Argentina pinned England in their own half in the final half hour but failed to find an equaliser and went down 1-0 in their second group F match in Sapporo. They now have one point less than Sweden and England.

"They'll sit back and wait for us. They're a well organised team who will punish you when they can. They give nothing away," Batistuta said.

"(England) parked themselves at the back and didn't give us any space. It's difficult to find gaps with 20 players in 20 metres.

"But if we've got here with this (tactical) system I don't think we're going to take a decision to change it," he said.

"We created few goal chances in the first two matches but we always tried to play like that (in the opposition half). If something's missing it's only a detail, not something serious.

"It won't be easy but we're confident," Batistuta added.

"The squad are together. Talking (about the England defeat) came naturally. We concluded we have nothing to reproach ourselves for. We showed desire, a will to play good football.

"I consider we're among the best teams in the world but that doesn't guarantee anything."

Midfielder Javier Zanetti said tournament favourites Argentina, who beat Nigeria 1-0 in their opening match, were feared to the point that teams played defensively against them.

"We've earned the respect of everyone, so they all withdraw," he said.

Defeat would end Batistuta's international career prematurely.

"I'd feel very sad but I won't even contemplate (defeat) until afterwards," the 33-year-old striker said.

"I'm mentally prepared to face a defeat." added Batistuta, who has said he will retire from the Argentina team after the tournament.

"But I want to go (in the finals) and that's the only thing I have in my head."