Argentina is writers' pick to win 2002 World Cup

December 19, 2001

LONDON (Reuters) - Argentina is strong favorite to win next year's World Cup ahead of 1998 champions France, according to a Reuters poll.

Out of 40 sports editors and journalists from 31 countries, 24 said Argentina, the tournament favorite and winner of the championships in 1978 and 1986, would triumph in the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan next summer.

"The best players, the best team, the best spirit," said Peter Lerch at Sportinformation in Switzerland.

France came second with seven votes. England and Italy both received three votes, while Brazil got two and Portugal one.

Argentina, which won the South American qualifying group by 12 points, is in the so-called first-round "group of death" with arch-rivals England, former Olympic champions Nigeria and hard-to-beat Sweden.

Argentina knocked England out of the 1998 World Cup after David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone.

As well as that defeat on penalties, England also lost to Argentina 2-1 in the 1986 quarter-finals in Mexico when Diego Maradona scored his infamous 'Hand of God' goal.

Sports editors said Argentina have the team to win the tournament. "A remarkable generation of players who are able to win in spite of a bad grouping in the first round," said Andre Fontenelle at Placar in Brazil.

But others said the tournament might not go all Argentina's way. "(England coach Sven Goran) Eriksson has the know-how to prepare England to beat any other team," said Howard Donaldson at The Mercury in South Africa.

Vitor Serpa at A Bola in Portugal backed Argentina to win but added: "France and England will certainly be strong candidates."

The last time England beat Argentina in the World Cup was in 1966 when they went on to become world champions for the only time.

A late Geoff Hurst header gave England a 1-0 victory in a quarter-final match on a sun-drenched July Saturday afternoon at Wembley, the game which really sparked the fierce soccer rivalry that still exists between the two countries.

Argentina had skipper Antonio Rattin sent off during the match and afterwards England coach Alf Ramsey refused to let his players swap shirts with the Argentinians who he famously said had played like "animals."

IN WITH A CHANCE

A total of 32 countries will compete in the World Cup finals.

France, which was also European Champions in 2000, opens the World Cup tournament on May 31 when it plays Senegal in Seoul. It will also play Denmark and Uruguay in the first round.

Italy, World Cup winners in 1934, 1938 and 1982, is grouped with Croatia, Mexico and Ecuador.

Two sports editors said four times winners Brazil could be champions, even though it stuttered through its World Cup qualifying campaign.

"Brazil played so poorly in the qualifying they must have used up all their bad games and will come storming through," said Roger Crutchley at the Bangkok Post.

Jeremy Walker at Asahi Shimbum in Tokyo said Portugal could be in with a chance, though.

"In the hot and humid conditions, keeping possession of the ball and conserving energy will be even more important than ever," he said.

"In Luis Figo and Rui Costa, Portugal have two masters of the midfield, and enough quality all round to upset the traditional superpowers on what, after all, is a neutral venue for Europe and South America."

The final of the World Cup will be held in Yokohama, Japan, on June 30.