May 24, 2002

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Plagued by economic and political upheaval back home, Argentina's players carry an added incentive to live up to their billing as a favorite to win the World Cup.

"Winning it all would mean everything not only to us, but to all Argentines -- especially now," says midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron. "We'd like to bring a smile to the fans at such a terrible time."

A glance at the team's squad, a veritable who's who of Europe's top players, shows why the Argentines are a strong choice to lift their third World Cup title.

In Lazio's Hernan Crespo and AS Roma's Gabriel Batistuta, they have two of the world's best strikers. The midfield, led by Manchester United's Veron, bubbles with creativity, while the sometimes questionable defense has been reinforced by Roma's Walter Samuel.

But they'll have to be at their best from the outset. While other contenders will be able to ease their way into the competition, Argentina has been plunged into the most difficult group alongside England, Nigeria, and Sweden.

But the Argentines are feared the most.

Argentina, the 1978 and '86 champion, easily won the South American qualifying group, winning 13 of its 18 matches and scoring 42 goals. From front to back, the team boasts a strong core of Europe-based stars and World Cup veterans.

So much talent abounds that playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, one of South America's brightest young players, will not be in the lineup.

The quality and depth of the squad leaves coach Marcelo Bielsa with a dilemma, particularly up front.

Crespo, who scored nine goals in 10 qualifiers, is most likely to spearhead the attack at the expense of Batistuta.

Claudio Caniggia, the 35-year-old winger who played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, also gets a place, providing he recovers from a knee injury. He will compete with another World Cup veterna, Ariel Ortega, for a place on the right wing.

Claudio Lopez and Cristian Gonzalez will likely contend for a spot on left wing, though Bielsa has also used Lopez on the right and as a center forward. That means no place for 20-year-old striker Javier Saviola, who led Argentina's Under-20 World Cup team to victory last year, scoring a record 11 goals during the tournament.

The front line can rely on the support of a midfield oozing with talent and craftiness and topped off with grit -- always an Argentine trait.

The virtuoso Veron leads a corps of complementing midfielders that includes Javier Zanetti and Juan Pablo Sorin. Both will likely flank the wings, backed by the tough play of Diego Simeone, Argentina's most experienced international player.

Samuel and Roberto Ayala will provide some toughness on a back line that will be without Nelson Vivas and Eduardo Berrizo. Both were sidelined by injuries months ahead of the tournament, and Samuel is nursing a twisted knee.

In goal, German Burgos has been the regular for the last 18 months, but Bielsa is reportedly considering starting Pablo Caballero.

A spurt of injuries had left Argentine officials fretting. In recent weeks, Veron, Crespo, Ayala, backup goalkeeper Roberto Bonano and Caniggia have been sidelined, though most are now back.

The injuries forced Bielsa to experiment in recent warm-up games and the performances were less than impressive: a 1-1 tie with Wales, followed by a 2-2 tie with Cameroon.

Those results left some wondering if the Argentine juggernaut has slowed.

But a weakened lineup nevertheless won 1-0 at Germany in April, wiping away much of the lingering doubt back home.

"Now let's start dreaming," was the headline in the Argentine daily La Nacion. "A victory that inspires hope."