Eriksson knows Argentina's capabilities better than anyone

December 3, 2001

LONDON, December 3 (DS) - English national team head coach Sven Goran Eriksson knows better than anyone how much he has to fear from the flashing blades of Argentina at next summer's World Cup, the Mirror reports.

England are included in Group F together with Argentina, Sweden and Nigeria, and are to conduct a difficult struggle. As the former coach of Italian S.S. Lazio, Eriksson has excellent knowledge of the players he must outwit - Juan Sebastian Veron, Hernan Crespo, Claudio Lopez, Diego Simeone and more.

Eriksson did not just admire Argentine talent when he was the head coach of Lazio and in charge of the biggest transfer fund in the game. He bought it wholesale, even busting the world transfer record when he paid J37.5 million to buy Crespo from Parma AC. He has paid J18 million for striker Lopez's move from Valencia to Rome and has signed Veron twice, paying the same sum once. Eriksson said: "Yes, I bought them all. I know them all from my time at Lazio. It is why I said before that I would rather not get Argentina in the draw. But maybe it was destiny at work.

"I know very well that it will be difficult against them. But it will also be stimulating. Why shouldn't we beat them? "They are the favourites. But why should I be depressed about these six months before the World Cup. I am very positive."

England have never beaten Sweden since 1968 and fresh from the most dreary match of Eriksson's reign against them at Old Trafford last month. The crunch could actually come in the last game against the Nigerians, Africa's second most powerful team behind Cameroon.

England met Argentina in 1998 and was beaten. This time, England's task is so great that they are taking on a team who do not guarantee a place for the mighty Gabriel Batistuta, a scorer of 55 goals in 75 internationals and 20 more in Roma's Serie A triumph last season.

It was Veron who started Eriksson's love affair with Argentina's big stage players - the men who have just romped through qualification for the World Cup by 12 points with just one defeat in 16 matches. Eriksson brought him from Sampdoria in 1996 and from Parma in 1999 again.

Crespo's signing was the real headline-grabber and the spotlight stayed on him when he failed at first to settle in Rome. But last season he finished Serie A's top goalscorer with 26 league goals.

Eriksson would never have bought any of them without the advice of his trusted lieutenant and spy Tord Grip, who is now his No.2 with England - and they are united in their assessment of the Argentine threat.

Grip said: "Argentina have everything. Skillful players and good goal-scorers like Crespo, Lopez and Batistuta. But they are not just good technicians. They are strong players.

"They are different to all the other South American sides in that way."

Argentina may played without veteran of 104 matches Diego Simeone. He has a long-term knee injury now but was the Argentine stalwart when Eriksson won Lazio's first league title for 26 years in 2000 after he took him to Rome as part of the J36 million deal that sent Christian Vieiri to Inter Milan.

"If I know him as I do, he will come back and play in the World Cup," Eriksson said.

The eccentricities of coach Marcelo Bielsa, nicknamed 'El Loco,' seem to be the only potential weakness of Argentina. Bielsa didn't come to the draw because he doesn't like large crowds.

But it would be wrong to build them up so much they frighten the wits out of England. Eriksson will not allow that to happen.

Daily Soccer