May 18, 2002

LONDON (Reuters) - War and revenge will be the last thing on Gabriel Batistuta's mind when Argentina faces England at the World Cup finals, the AS Roma striker told The Guardian on Saturday.

The 33-year-old veteran of two World Cups said he was relishing the latest contest between two of world soccer's fiercest rivals in their group F clash on June 7.

But Batistuta played down suggestions that memories of the 1982 Falklands War between the two countries - or even past soccer encounters - would motivate him for the game in Sapporo, Japan.

"That kind of thing doesn't even enter my mind," the former Fiorentina player told The Guardian.

"Personally I can't take the blame for what politicians did in 1982. I can't take on some kind of revenge or change history.

"I want to beat England because I want to win every game I play not because we went to war in 1982, or because we played against each other in 1998."

TOUGH CHALLENGE

Batistuta, who has scored a record 56 goals in 75 appearances for Argentina - including nine in World Cup finals - reckons group F is by far the toughest of the eight.

"I think we're a very good team," he said. "But let's face it, we're in the hardest group of the World Cup.

"Nigeria are one of the strongest teams in Africa, the Swedes didn't lose once in the qualifying rounds, and England are a great team, always a danger at World Cup level. " Batistuta believes England's defeat on penalties to Argentina after a 2-2 draw in St. Etienne, France four years ago will make them especially motivated.

"We knocked them out in '98 - they're going to want to beat us this time," he said.

Batistuta, often linked with a move to Manchester United in recent years, is a great admirer of English soccer.

"I'm very attracted by the whole spectacle, the passionate commitment of the players.

"A team that has already been relegated will play against the top of the league (sides) with gusto, willing to run until the last minute, giving everything on the pitch.

"And also the fans, no fences, that kind of thing. It's all very good for the show of football."

Batistuta, who played in only five of Argentina's 18 qualifiers, faces a battle with Hernan Crespo to make the World Cup starting line-up.

A poor season with Roma, marred by injury and some disappointing performances, has made it likely that he will start most matches on the substitutes' bench, though Batistuta remains philosophical.

"I've managed to reach a sort of equilibrium," he said. "I know perfectly well that in football you have good times and you have bad times."