Argentina walk the plank fearing French repeat

June 12, 2002

SEOUL, June 12 (AFP) -- Fallen world champions France are on their way home after their inglorious World Cup showing and pre-tournament favourites Argentina will be doing everything Wednesday to avoid joining them.

Argentina, whose World Cup was unhinged by England's stoic 1-0 win last Friday, need to beat Sweden in Miyagi, Japan, on Wednesday to get through from Group F to the last 16 of the tournament.

A first round exit will only add to the gloom back home which had viewed the World Cup as a chance to restore some pride after the financial crisis which has wracked the country. Yet if the tenacious Swedes get a point from a draw it will be enough to see off Argentina as England are favoured to beat eliminated Nigeria in Osaka on Wednesday.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, Spain are fielding a radically reshaped side for their final Group B match against history-chasing South Africa in Daejeon, South Korea. Should South Africa get a draw that will be enough to clinch passage into the second round ahead of Paraguay, who take on ousted Slovenia in Seogwipo, South Korea. There is pressure on Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa to change his playing system and choose Hernan Crespo alongside out-of-sorts scoring legend Gabriel Batistuta against Sweden.

'Batigol' has carried his poor form from Italy's Serie A season into the finals and looks uninspired. Batistuta, veteran of the 1994 and 1998 finals where Argentina were beaten in the second round and quarter-finals respectively, said Wednesday's match would be like the final and for him defeat would also mean the end of his outstanding international career. One position where Bielsa is almost certain to make a change is dropping Manchester United midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron to the bench and keeping Valencia star Pablo Aimar in the starting line-up.

The rugged Swedes only need a point to survive the 'Group of Death' and they have looked rock solid in defence thanks to the inspirational captaincy of Johan Mjallby. England believe complacency will be their biggest enemy as they seek to finish the job of qualification against Nigeria. With spirits soaring following victory against bitter rivals Argentina, England's management and senior players are anxious that the unpredictable Africans could be a banana skin waiting to happen.

Nigeria, already eliminated from the competition after two defeats, have nothing to play for but pride - and England manager Sven Goran-Eriksson fears could make them more dangerous. Defender Rio Ferdinand has urged his team-mates to forget the heroics of the Argentine win. "Just because we beat Argentina does not mean that everything is going to be rosy from here," he said. Successive defeats to Argentina and Sweden have ensured a short stay in Japan for Nigeria but Adegboye Onigbinde's Super Eagles are not prepared to roll over in their final first round fixture. "We have to fulfil our responsibility," Onigbinde said. "We are here to play the three matches in the first round, and we have the responsibility to field our best team in each game."

Spain, eternal World Cup underachievers, have already secured their place in the second round with 3-1 wins over Slovenia and Paraguay. With a second-round place looming, coach Jose Antonio Camacho can afford to rest some of his players - and it is an option he intends to take against a South Africa team dreaming of a place in the last 16. "I expect to make three to five changes, but regardless of who is going to play, we will still be playing all out for a win," said Camacho. "We don't want to lose the habit." The South Africans need at least a draw to progress otherwise they will be sweating on the result of the other Group B match between Paraguay and Slovenia. Should Chilavert's Paraguay win handsomely over Slovenia they could still snatch a last-16 place off the 'Bafana Bafana' boys of South Africa.