May 28, 2002

NARAHA, Japan (Reuters) - Rival marksmen Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo have both failed to find the net as Argentina were surprisingly kept goalless in two hours of World Cup warm-up soccer by Japanese club opposition.

A second string Argentine side spearheaded by Batistuta and including four members of their under-20 side lost 1-0 to Vegalta-Sendai in the first of two one-hour games ahead of their World Cup group F opener against Nigeria on Sunday.

Then the lineup that coach Marcelo Bielsa could well pick to meet Nigeria in Ibaraki, with Crespo at centre-forward, were held 0-0 by Tokyo FC.

Neither Bielsa nor any of his players spoke afterwards to reporters anxious to know their feelings about their goal-shy performance.

Tokyo almost went in front just before the interval when Walter Samuel made a back pass to goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero in a tight situation on the edge of the box. Striker Satoru Asari blocked Cavallero's clearance and the rebound skimmed the Argentine bar.

Near the end, Cavallero had to make a diving save to push out a volley from Asari and was beaten when Brazilian Guimaraes headed just over his bar minutes later.

Crespo came close with two chances.

Bielsa exhorted his players several times from the touchline to refrain from protesting refereeing decisions they disliked.

"Keep calm," he shouted. "Don't complain, come on, quick, get on with the game, don't worry about those things."

FEW CHANCES

For all their solid structure and well-oiled game-style, Argentina struggled to create chances.

But a pleasing factor for Bielsa, no doubt, was the sharpness and good positioning of Diego Simeone in the midfield anchor role following a six-month layoff through injury.

Claudio Caniggia missed the practice after a setback on Saturday in his recovery from a knee injury.

Asked how much time he has lost with the setback, Caniggia told Reuters that "I don't know exactly, probably not much, but obviously less if I'd been able to play here today."

Batistuta, vying with Crespo for the central striker's role in Bielsa's team, did little of note in the hour he played, heading his best chance over the bar and trying to turn the ball into the net with his hand in another attack.

Argentina were also without 1998 veteran Claudio Lopez, in bed with a fever, and midfielders Gustavo Lopez, who was rested, and Matias Almeyda, who is recovering from injury.

Probable first choice line-up (3-4-3): 12-Pablo Cavallero; 4-Mauricio Pochettino, 2-Roberto Ayala, 6-Walter Samuel; 8-Javier Zanetti, 14-Diego Simeone, 11-Juan Sebastian Veron, 18-Kily Gonzalez; 10-Ariel Ortega, 19-Hernan Crespo.