Argentina lifts home spirits with 1-0 win
Argentina lifts home spirits with 1-0 win
Mike Collett Reuters Ibaraki, Japan
Argentina struck the opening blow in the World Cup's toughest group on Sunday with a 1-0 win over Nigeria to give a sorely needed boost to its economically stricken nation.
Gabriel Batistuta repaid the faith placed in him by coach Marcelo Bielsa with a 63rd minute header as the newly installed Cup favorites made a winning start to group F on the third day of the tournament.
Argentina's long-term rivals England, drawn in the same group, took an early lead against Sweden in Saitama after defender Sol Campbell headed a corner from captain David Beckham into the net in the 24th minute.
An elementary error in the 59th minute by right-back Danny Mills, who failed to control the ball, allowed midfielder Niclas Alexandersson to lash the ball past David Seaman from 20 metres.
Beckham, playing his first game for nearly two months after breaking a bone in his left foot, was substituted four minutes later.
Sweden, with Fredrik Ljungberg passed fit but missing captain Patrik Andersson because of a thigh injury, were strangely subdued in the first half. They were a different proposition after the interval and fully deserved the draw.
Despite lurid warnings in Japan's media that England soccer hooligans could wreak havoc, the match began in a party atmosphere with England and Sweden fans mingling before the game and no sign of troublemakers.
Senegal's shock 1-0 win over champions France on Friday's first day of Asia's first World Cup led to a swift revision of the odds with Argentina now the tournament favorites.
Argentina has been virtually paralyzed by a four-year recession that has put one in two Argentines below the poverty line.
Soccer has not been immune with the Argentine Football Association, despite an annual US$250,000 payout from FIFA, so broke that the players have agreed to play without pay. Even coach Marcelo Bielsa is not being paid.
On Sunday, Batistuta, 33, picked ahead of rival Hernan Crespo, rose high to head the winner and enter an exclusive club of 10 players who have scored 10 or more World Cup goals.
More importantly, it gave Argentina three points against a Nigerian side who emulated Senegal and Cameroon -- who drew 1-1 with Ireland -- in their rugged uncompromising defense.
Argentina launched wave after wave of attack with Juan Sebastian Veron showing some delightful touches in the midfield.
Batistuta twice went close to scoring, heading just wide in the first half and firing just wide of the post in the second.
Finally a deep Veron corner floated towards the far post and Batistuta soared above team mate Mauricio Pochettino to score.
"We're very happy to have achieved an important victory over tough rivals," said Veron. "What was important was the team. This is a very difficult group with great teams and great players and we were able to show the world what we are worth as a team."
BOX
1. Croatia vs Mexico (G) Niigata, Japan 1.30 p.m. 2. Brazil vs Turkey (C) Ulsan, S. Korea 4 p.m. 3. Italy vs Ecuador (G) Sapporo, Japan 6.30 p.m