Group F analysis
December 1, 2001
PUSAN, South Korea (Reuters) - Analysis of World Cup
Group F following the draw for the finals on Saturday:
Group F - Argentina, England, Nigeria, Sweden.
June 2 Saitama England v Sweden
June 2 Ibaraki Argentina v Nigeria
June 7 Kobe Sweden v Nigeria
June 7 Sapporo Argentina v England
June 12 Miyagi Sweden v Argentina
June 12 Osaka Nigeria v England
The toughest group of all in which every match will be like
a cup final.
The 40-year World Cup rivalry of Argentina and England will
overshadow all the other matches in the months ahead with
Argentina's 4-3 win on penalties over England after the teams
drew 2-2 in the second round of the 1998 World Cup still clear
in the memory.
The match is also likely to feature Manchester United team
mates Juan Sebastian Veron (Argentina), Paul Scholes and David
Beckham (England), who was memorably sent off against Argentina
four years ago.
Argentina swept imperiously into the finals losing just one
of their 18 South American qualifying matches and have been
made 4-1 favorites to win the World Cup following the draw.
But they will not relish its three matches in this "group of
death."
The opening match between Sweden and England is even
spicier than usual as England are coached by Swede Sven Goran
Eriksson and have not beaten Sweden in eight attempts since
1968.
Nigeria cannot be under-estimated having reached the second
round in both 1994 and 1998 and taken the gold medal at the
Atlanta Olympics in 1996. Arsenal team mates Nwankwo Kanu
(Nigeria), David Seaman and Sol Campbell (England) could also
come into direct opposition as Nigeria bid to become the first
African country to beat England.
Group F is the only group containing three countries who
have reached the World Cup final: Argentina (runners-up in 1930
and 1990, winners in 1978 and 1986), England (winners in 1966),
Sweden (runners-up in 1958).
Reuters prediction: 1. Argentina
2. England
3. Nigeria
4. Sweden