The groans went up from the crowd as each succeeding name was called out in Argentina's World Cup group: Sweden. England. Nigeria.

Everyone seemed shocked at the Murderers' Row that emerged in Group F at the Cup draw Saturday. Everyone, that is, except the Argentines.

"We always knew that could happen. You have to expect it in football," said an unruffled Jose Pekerman, manager of Argentina's national teams.

There even was an upside, Pekerman said.

"It could be an important challenge for us to face more demanding opponents," he said. "From the start we must be more concentrated and face three rivals the same way."

No one can lower his guard in this crowd.

Long dismissed by South Americans as a one-dimensional team, England has an arsenal of weapons to go with its famed air game. Led by Michael Owen and David Beckham, the Brits have emerged as a solid title contender.

History adds spice to the matchup of these two, which went to war over the Falkland Islands in 1982. England prevailed, but four years later the Argentines literally held the upper hand, when Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal helped to eliminate the English from the 1986 Cup.

They repeated the dose in 1998, coming from behind to knock out England in a penalty kick tiebreaker after Beckham was ejected.

Nigeria, in its third Cup appearance, is as unpredictable as the weather. At their best, they have the footwork, the daring and the relentless attack to take on any opponent.

Argentina and Brazil got a taste of Nigeria's potential at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, when the Africans ran over both en route to the gold medal.

Sweden makes up in experience what it may lack in brilliance. The team is a perennial contender, although it hasn't reached the deciding match since 1958.

"We must begin the tournament as if it were the final," said Peckerman. "This is good."

For some English players, it's time for payback.

"It's a great chance for revenge after what happened at the last World Cup," goalkeeper David Seaman told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I'm sure David Beckham will be very happy with it."

Not everyone is so sanguine.

"It is the best team in South America, maybe the best in Africa and Sweden, whom we have not beaten for 33 years," said England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. "It's a tough group. I don't think it could have been more difficult."

Although the top two teams qualify for the next round, even that is small consolation.

"If we come in second in the group it means we will probably have to play France in the next round -- so let's try to win the group," Eriksson said.

It's a tall order. The Argentines recently bumped Brazil from the No. 2 spot in the world ranking and are the odds-on favorites with London's top bookmakers to take their third World Cup title next summer.

The Argentines stormed through the qualifying round, winning 13 of their 18 matches and scoring 42 goals. Their only loss was to Brazil last year, which they avenged by winning the return match in Buenos Aires.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa's squad is brimming with talent, especially from the midfield forward. Manchester United's Juan Veron orchestrates an attack so deep that star striker Gabriel Batistuta might sit on the bench.

"This is the best team in the world right now," an admittedly partial Maradona said recently. "There is no side that is playing better than Argentina. We just have to maintain that level."

Sweden confident despite getting toughest group

STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Sweden may have been drawn into the World Cup's "Group of Death" on Saturday -- along with Argentina, England and Nigeria in Group F -- but the Swedes may have the edge going into next summer's tournament.

Sweden, which finished its qualifying campaign undefeated, has beaten both Argentina and Nigeria in their only meetings, and hasn't lost to England in 33 years.

"I always see things positively. While this is a tough group it also feels inspiring," said Tommy Soderberg, one of Sweden's two coaches. "If you want to make a tough group, this is the one."

England, coached by Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson, could only manage a 1-1 draw in their last match, a friendly in Manchester in November.

"It will be inspiring to play England," said defender Teddy Lucic, one of few players left from the 1994 bronze-medal winners in the United States. "Their playing style suits us. They probably respect Sweden."

Sweden's other coach, Lars Lagerback, just hopes his team will do its best in South Korea and Japan.

"We're not going to lie down beforehand. We'll do our best in any case, but it's clear that it will tough for us to advance from this group," Lagerback said on Swedish Radio.

As for the other two group members, Sweden won't be taking them lightly either.

"Argentina won the South American group in superior style. They have fantastic players and it's going to be a tough opponent," Lucic said.

"I don't know much about Nigeria. But they have big individual stars and technical players."

Soderberg said his team will prepare for the South American style by playing a friendly against a yet to be named South American team in May.

Sweden, which will make its 10th World Cup appearance next year, finished with a 8-2-0 qualifying record to win its group. With 20 goals from Henrik Larsson, Europe's top goalscorer last year, the Swedes were one of the top offensive teams in Europe.

Sweden's best World Cup showing came as hosts in 1958, losing the final to Pele's Brazil 5-2 in Stockholm.

Sweden's other notable World Cup performances include two bronze medals (1950 and 1994); one fourth (1938) and one fifth place (1974).

'Cruel draw' for Nigeria

LAGOS -- Nigeria will be lucky to make it to the knock-out stage after being teamed with World Cup favorites Argentina, England and Sweden in group F on Saturday, according to Tony Nnachetta, a soccer analyst and former Nigerian football administrator.

"This is a cruel draw for Nigeria, we will be lucky to make it into the second round," he said.

"Argentina will certainly be tough for us," he said. "Sweden are too disciplined, and that's bad for us. They'll read us like a book and you can't take them by surprise."

Nigeria, who reached the second round in 1994 and 1998, were the last of Africa's five representatives to win a place in next year's finals. They made it thanks to a 3-0 win over Ghana in their last qualifying match in July.

But despite being drawn in the toughest group, Rauf Ladipo, leader of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club is optimistic the Super Eagles will do well.