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The Guardian | Wednesday June 21 2006 11 David Pleat’s pick of the best If the sides were to meet later in the tournament and field their strongest teams, this would be my select XI Edwin Van der Sar Experienced, cool, authoritative and uses the ball like a libero. Johnny Heitinga One to watch. History of injuries but is now staking a place with steady defensive form from right-back. At 22 will steadily improve. Roberto Ayala Steadying influence: strong, good in the air for his size. Will lead his team. Gabriel Heinze Tremendous aerial ability. Plays accurately with his left foot into the channels. Prone to recklessness. Juan Pablo Sorín Has energy, aerial ability and a sweet left foot. Can be erratic in the tackle but a vastly improved player. Mark van Bommel Likes to break forward but I would make him sit, using his tackling and determination to break up attacks. Van der Sar Ayala Heinze Heitinga Sorín Mascherano Van Bommel Riquelme Messi Robben Van Nistelrooy Javier Mascherano The new Claude Makelele: quick into the challenge, good positional sense, plays early. Puts team before himself. Juan Román Riquelme Has grown in stature in a smaller pond at Villarreal. Lovely touch. Though lacking pace, shields well and brain and precision passing more than compensate. Needs protection from two holders. Lionel Messi Wonderful first touch. Takes ball on the move with vision and pace. Glides past defenders. A joy to watch. Ruud van Nistelrooy Elder statesman just edges it. Like Hernán Crespo a goal machine, but Tévez may eclipse both in time. Arjen Robben Not frightened to run the ball and carries the attack with speed. Spins beyond defenders who leave spaces. Uncatchable. ine with Holland History lines up on side of the Dutch Matt Scott forgettable affair. After a scoreless Roa at the near post for the winner. match, Argentina won 8–7 on penalties. The two most recent meetings were in Roberto Ayala makes up the numbers in low card means he will stand down after Nineteen years later, the World Cup Amsterdam. In March 1999 Edgar Davids a practice wall as Argentina prepare to two impressive performances, with Dirk Holland and Argentina first met in a quarter-final in Marseille was one of the scored on 10 minutes in a friendly but face Holland today Roberto Candia/AP Kuyt likely to start. Barcelona’s Giovanni friendly in May 1974, just before the last most dramatic matches of France 98. was sent off in injury-time; Gabriel van Bronckhorst and Mark van Bommel German World Cup, and Holland The score was 1–1 after Claudio López Batistuta levelled six minutes from are among others set to be rested, mean- emerged 4–1 victors. The great Rinus had cancelled out Patrick Kluivert’s time. In February 2003 Giovanni van Crespo, Javier Saviola and Gabriel Heinze ing they will not come up against their Michels had recently taken over a Dutch 12th-minute opener five minutes later. Bronckhorst scored the only goal of the to save them from possible second-round club-mate Messi. team boasting the talents of Johan Ariel Ortega’s late dismissal evened up game. Of the 14 players Argentina have bans, they could rest Javier Mascherano Edwin van der Sar, in line to become Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Johnny Rep, the sides, Arthur Numan having been used in this World Cup only Roberto to protect his toe injury and give Juan Holland’s joint record caps holder tonight Rob Rensenbrink and Ruud Krol. This sent off earlier. Extra-time was looming Ayala and Juan Pablo Sorín started that Román Riquelme a breather. Whatever by joining Frank de Boer on 112, backed was a fractious side but Michels united when Frank de Boer launched a pinpoint friendly; Holland have used only Ruud team they select, touching the level they that policy. “It is important that you have them, and this emphatic win — in which pass for Dennis Bergkamp, whose one- van Nistelrooy, Phillip Cocu and Mark reached against Serbia will be tough. the strongest possible team in the second all the goals came in the second half — touch control allowed him to beat Carlos van Bommel of their starters then. “I’m very proud that I played a part in round,” said the Man United keeper. If heralded a new, cohesive era. that match and was part of a historic Phillip Cocu overcomes an ankle injury he In the World Cup, Holland repeated Ivory Coast v Serbia & Montenegro 8pm ITV4 Group C event,” Crespo said. “But I feel it will be will reach 100 international appearances. their drubbing with a 4–0 win in difficult to improve on the level we The Dutch can expect to meet a relaxed Gelsenkirchen. Cruyff was given a free showed against Serbia & Montenegro. We Argentina side. Pekerman’s players were rein and his goals in the 10th and 90th Venue Stadion München Referee Marco Rodríguez (Mex) Matches 1 Y3, R0, 3.00 cards per game Weather 22° put on a great performance and the chal- given Sunday afternoon off to spend time minutes were the bookends of a match Odds Ivory Coast 11-10 Serbia & Mont 11-5 Draw 12-5 Radio Radio 5 Sports Extra, TS digital Rain possible lenge now is to maintain it. We must not with family and friends and some enjoyed that Holland dominated utterly. Ivory Coast Tizié A shellshocked Serbia & 1 Montenegro face a frustrated give our rivals the confidence that will a barbecue. There seems little danger of Four years later the two sides met Manager Henri Michel K Touré Boka Ivory Coast in Munich with FIFA ranking 32 nothing but pride at stake. “It is make them believe they can win.” them losing focus. “The truth is we had a again in the World Cup final in Buenos Subs from Kouassi, Fae, Kalou, 21 4 3 12 Eboué Méïté very difficult to find a motive Pekerman said it was too early to tell if great match but we still haven’t achieved Aires. In a tumultuous Estadio Yapi Yapo, Zoro, Dindane, Gnanhouan, for this match,” said their Domoraud, Keita, Demel, Barry Y Touré Zokora his side could win the Cup. “What the anything,” said Messi. “We have to keep Monumental Osvaldo Ardiles slid the captain Savo Milosevic. “We Doubtful None 22 19 5 2 have tried to focus on it but our team have shown on the pitch is that Ar- improving things to play better each day ball through for Leopoldo Luque to set Injured None Romaric ≥Akalé morale has been killed off.” The Suspended Drogba (one match) suspension of Mateja Kezman gentina have potential. From that to being because we’re going to get much more up Mario Kempes for the opener. Dick 9 14 and Ognjen Koroman will not [World Cup] candidates it is too premature complicated matches which, if you lose, Nanninga came off the bench to equalise A Koné B Koné ease their task. Didier Drogba is also suspended for the to say. We at least don’t see it that way.” you go back home.” and a post denied Rensenbrink to ensure ≥Ljuboja ≥Zigic Serbia & Montenegro Ivorians after collecting two Argentina have beaten Holland in only There is confidence within the squad, extra-time. Fifteen minutes into it, Manager Ilija Petkovic 21 19 yellow cards in their narrow one of their seven meetings — after extra- hardly surprising after the destruction of Kempes hit his sixth goal of the FIFA ranking 46 ≥Vukic ≥Ergic defeats to Argentina and Subs from Milosevic, P Djordjevic, Holland. In a group of lesser 18 10 4 2 time in the 1978 World Cup final in Buenos Serbia and a victory over an Ivory Coast tournament. With Holland pushing Kovacevic, N Djordjevic, Dudic, quality the Elephants may well Aires. A memorable head-to-head in the team that would surely have progressed forward for a second equaliser, Daniel Petkovic, Nadj•, Ilic, Stojkovic Stankovic Duljaj have charged through to the Dragutinovic ≥Basta quarter-final of the 1998 tournament was from any other group. “Our attacking Bertoni put the triumph beyond doubt. Doubtful None knock-out stages but at least Injured Vidic (out for tournament) 3 20 6 13 they should be able to claim decided by Dennis Bergkamp’s brilliant power does not come by chance,” When 10 months later the teams Suspended Koroman, Kezman (both one Krstajic Gavrancic their first World Cup points winning goal. If similar Dutch magic Mascherano said. “With players of the reprised their final meeting in Berne in a match) 1 against demoralised Jevric opponents. John Ashdown comes to the fore this evening it will not standard Argentina have, you can settle a match organised to mark the 75th be from the boots of Robben, whose yel- match at any moment.” anniversary of Fifa, it was an eminently Key Probable starters in bold, contenders in light On yellow card ≥ Change from last match .