Bielsa wants Argentines to win with "beauty"

December 11, 2001

BUENOS AIRES, Dec 11 (AFP) -- If Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa has his way his side will play the beautiful game on the way to a third World Cup title at next summer's finals in South Korea and Japan.

"We are chasing success through the beauty of the game," smiled Bielsa as he pondered the Argentine campaign in their "Group of Death" against England, Nigeria and Sweden.

Argentina romped through their qualifying matches with 13 wins in 18 games and 42 goals scored to just 15 conceded, prompting many observers to make them joint favourites with holders France.

That form ensured they took their place in the finals with four matches to spare while they could well afford their only defeat - which came to Brazil in Sao Paulo. The only other blots on the campaign were two draws with Paraguay and Uruguay - but aside from such minor discrepancies the Argentines easily found their rhythm and Bielsa says they will carry that through into next summer.

He added that he wanted to win as much as his country's fanatical fans - but only by turning on the style and not through sterile win-at-all-costs tactics.

"There is no better way to win than with style," opined Bielsa, while admitting that the Argentine fans regarded "where you place as the final result."

Bielsa will turn to stars such as veteran forward Gabriel Batistuta of AS Roma and Juan Sebastian Veron, the Manchester United midfielder, as they bid to get out of by far the toughest group.

By contrast Luis Felipe Scolari's Brazil, who only limped into the finals, should be able to see off first phase competition from Turkey, China and Costa Rica without too many problems.

The Argentine squad will be based in Miyagi on the outskirts of Tokyo in the first phase and they will face Sweden there in their third and final group match. Argentina, champions in 1978 on home ground and then under an inspired Diego Maradona in 1986, will be playing in the finals for the 13th time and such is their recent form that Bielsa intens to ensure it is unlucky 13 - for everyone else.