May 31, 2002

YOKOHAMA, Japan, May 31 (AFP) -- Argentina are on a hiding to nothing to win the World Cup for the third time - because the media and the home fans will accept nothing less, coach Marcelo Bielsa admits.

The South Americans are most peoples' joint favourites along with holders France to land the trophy. But they could slip up as early as their first match in Group F, dubbed the Group of Death, as they head for Ibaraki northeast of Tokyo for Sunday's encounter with Nigeria - probably as gifted a side as they are - but rather more explosively unpredictable. The match at the Kashima Stadium is a potential landmine as Argentine players and fans alike remember all too well their disastrous tournament-opener in 1990, when as reigning champions and with Diego Maradona in their ranks they slumped 1-0 to nine-man Cameroon. For Cameroon, one could read Nigeria - as both sides represent the cream of the African crop - and Argentina's "albicelestes" (the sky blue-and-whites) cannot afford to take a win for granted, especially with England and Sweden to come. The Argentines romped through their qualifiers with just one defeat in 18 matches. But anxiety lurks beneath the confident exterior. And some in their entourage are admitting as much.

"The players are anxious - but there is an overall climate of confidence. We are now at the stage where each hour seems to last for ever and everyone just wants the tournament to start," said team press spokesman Andres Ventura. Bielsa is aware of the expectations, which he already feels as burdensome, if predictable.

"If Argentina are not crowned champions it will be a failure. The media has already agreed on that," was Bielsa's wry comment even before the squad left Buenos Aires, sentiment he has since repeated privately. Adding to the psychological burden on the squad is the need, put into words earlier in the week by skipper Juan Sebastian Veron, to boost national feeling at a time of economic collapse with the country's finances in more parlous a state than at any time in the past century. Yet former star Ricky Villa, who won the 1978 event on home soil before leaving to find fame in England with Tottenham Hotspur, swiftly warned that despite Veron's comments a World Cup win would only bring Argentina "happiness for a month." Defender Roberto Ayala said his team must rise to the challenge.

"If we are favourites, we have to show why" said the Valencia star who has already pocketed the Spanish league title this season and who behind Veron is a potential bearer of the captain's armband. Argentina, champions in 1978 and 1986, see themselves as more an effective unit than a collection of stars - which should help their cause as they bid to do better than a quarter-final loss to Holland four years ago. Nigeria will be a stiff test, however, as winger Austin 'JayJay' Okocha of Paris Saint Germain has already warned his rivals the Africans "are not going to be Group F's Cinderella side."

Bielsa has yet to shed light on his final decision on the shape of his attack with veteran Gabriel Batistuta of AS Roma likely but not certain to get the nod for his legendary predatory instincts ahead of Lazio's Hernan Crespo. Rangers' Claudio Caniggia is definitely out with an ankle injury suffered in the Scottish Cup final with Rangers - but otherwise Bielsa will not reveal his hand until the last possible moment.

The Nigerians, coached by Adegboye Onigbinde, will want to show they can bounce back from a disappointing African Nations Cup where they could only manage third place. And they will also want to avenge a group defeat in the 1994 finals - although that year they and Argentina both progressed only to crash in second-round knockout matches. Onigbinde insists his side are better than four years ago, when they slid out in the second stage to Denmark having won their first-phase group thanks largely to a fine win over Spain.

"I don't fear anyone, we don't fear anyone. We can beat Argentina," he vowed.

Bielsa, with 37 million fans demanding victory not just on Sunday but in the June 30 final, already fears the consequences.