The Hindu : Sport / Football : Glamour match in Group of Death

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Thursday, Jun 01, 2006

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Sport - Football

Glamour match in Group of Death

Berlin: Every World Cup has one, and unfortunately for Argentina, it always seems to be in it — the first round's `Group of Death'.

The Argentines are seen as one of the likeliest threats to defending champion Brazil in Germany, but will have to negotiate a testing Group C, which also includes the Netherlands, Serbia-Montenegro and Ivory Coast.

The South Americans open their campaign against Ivory Coast in Hamburg on June 10, and follow that up with a tie against the Serbs six days later.

By the time it meets the Dutch in the undisputed glamour match of the first round, Argentina will hope to have booked its place in the last 16.

With players of the calibre of Juan Roman Riquelme and Lionel Messi in its ranks, there is no question Argentina has the quality to go far.

Anxious

Yet Argentina has been anxious to play down its chances with the memory of its disastrous 2002 campaign still fresh.

The Netherlands begins the tournament with one of its most settled squads of recent times. So often troubled by factions and infighting, the Dutch have been knitted into a cohesive unit by coach Marco van Basten.

The Neatherlands qualified for Germany with one of the best qualifying records in Europe, registering 10 wins and two draws and has quality throughout the side.— AFP

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