May 16, 2002

Veteran Argentina striker Claudio Caniggia says he put his World Cup participation at risk because he did not want to let down Rangers fans by missing the Scottish Cup final against Celtic.

"If I had wanted, I could have missed the final," Caniggia told Argentinian newspaper El Clarin. "But a Celtic v Rangers match is something like a World Cup for them.

"Catholics against Protestants, it is as important as life itself to them.

"Iżve never run from tackles. If I was afraid (of missing the World Cup), I would have stopped playing one month ago."

The 35-years old striker said the injury he picked up playing against Celtic in the final on 4 May was not as bad as he had thought at first, but he was grateful anyway for the faith coach Marcelo Bielsa had shown in him.

"It is not easy for a coach to call up a player of my age and who plays in Scotland. But I am here because Bielsa took the chances for me," Caniggia said.

He has since been passed fit to play in the opening game against Nigeria on 2 June.

The veteran of the 1990 World Cup campaign said he was confident that Argentina can win the tournament this summer and revealed his formula for reaching the second round and then progressing.

"We have to beat Nigeria, and then we will arrive in a good position to play England. But, in the World Cup, calculations are actually useless. We just have to win seven matches."

BBC Sport Online