Preview: Sweden vs. Argentina
June 11, 2002
MIYAGI, Japan (Ticker) -- Juan Sebastian Veron will look to bounce back and lead Argentina into the second round Wednesday, when the "Albiceleste" square off against Sweden in the final Group F match for both sides.
Veron has been the focus of blame for the Argentine press after Friday's 1-0 loss in the grudge match with England.
Nicknamed "La Brujita," which means "The Little Witch," Veron usually casts the spells which creates often magical results from Argentina's attacking play. Despite orchestrating the offense well during Argentina's opening-match victory against Nigeria, Veron was replaced at the start of the second half against England in favor of Valencia playmaker Pablo Aimar.
The Argentine daily newspaper 'Clarin' proclaimed Veron's performance to be "his worst ever for the nation team."
'La Nacion,' another national paper, was not even that kind.
"He represented all the bad things about Argentina in a 45 minutes to forget. He showed a lack of precision and looked numb."
The pressure certainly will be on coach Marcelo Bielsa's men. Argentina must win to ensure advancement to the second round.
Sweden, meanwhile, simply needs a draw to be sure of a berth to the last 16. After battling back to earn a 1-1 draw against England, Sweden rallied past Nigeria, 2-1, on Friday, thanks to a pair of goals from Celtic marksman Henrik Larsson.
"I think it's important for us that we don't have too much respect for Argentina. We're leading the group and now it's up to us," Sweden defender Johan Mjallby said. "We'll go out and try to play our game and hope we get a goal. But we've also shown that we can turn a match around twice in a row."
The Swedes will not get their captain back. Patrick Andersson has been hobbled by a groin injury, forcing the Barcelona player to miss the previous two matches. He looks set to be sidelined for the Argentina match, putting in doubt his participation at any stage of the World Cup.
His brother, Daniel, picked up a bruised thigh in training last Wednesday, but is expected to be fit for the crucial "Group of Death" battle.
"Everyone knew it would be a tough group," Sweden co-coach Tommy Soderberg said. "But no one would have believed it if someone had said before the World Cup that we would be leading after two matches."
The Argentines and the Swedes have met just once before. In the last 16 of the 1934 World Cup in Italy, Sweden knocked off Argentina, 3-2.
CNNSI