Capsule summaries of the teams participating in Group F of the World Cup
ARGENTINA
FIFA Rank: 3
Qualified: South America 1st
World Cup appearances: 12
World Cup record: 29-18-10
World Cup goals: 100-69
Best performance: Champions 1978, 1986
Uniform Colors: white, blue, black
Schedule: Sunday, June 2 vs. Nigeria (at Ibaraki); Friday, June 7 vs. England (at Sapporo); Wednesday, June 12 vs. Sweden (at Miyagi).
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Key players: Hernan Crespo (Lazio, Italy), Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United, England), Ariel Ortega (Valencia, Spain), Walter Samuel (AS Roma, Italy).
Outlook: Any coach loves being blessed with the talent Marcelo Bielsa of Argentina has from which to choose. But be careful what you wish for because Gabriel Batistuta and Hernan Crespo may wind up in the same lineup.
Fortunate to have two of the world's top goal-scorers and cursed with a formation that requires a single center forward, Bielsa must make the controversial decision.
The obvious question is what side in the world does not have enough room for two players of such immense quality. But having dominated South American qualification using Bielsa's 3-3-1-3 formation, Argentina requires just one central striker to play with a pair of forwards comfortable supplying that central player from the wings.
Nicknamed "Batigol," Batistuta is Argentina's all-time goal-scoring leader and has been one of the great strikers in Italy's Serie A for more than a decade with Fiorentina and now AS Roma. The 33-year-old, who almost certainly will be competing in hist last World Cup, managed to find the net five times during limited qualifying action.
That action became limited beginning July 19, 2000, when Crespo replaced the injured Batistuta in the 2-0 win in a qualifier against Ecuador. Crespo scored nine times in 12 appearances to help Argentina finish 12 points ahead of nearest rival Ecuador.
At age 26, Crespo has more speed and a long future in the Argentine side. He also works well with Lazio and Argentina teammate Claudio Lopez, who is expected to fill one of the other forward roles.
The Lopez factor, along with his speed and strike rate during qualification, likely gives Crespo the edge.
If the decision on who to play at center forward is tremendously difficult for Bielsa, then his choice of playmaker is ridiculously easy.
Juan Sebastian Veron is as skillful as any midfielder in world football. He helped Lazio win "the double" as Serie A and Italian Cup champion in 2000. He then commanded the highest transfer fee ever paid by a British club to join Manchester United. He formed one of the mot talented midfield units in the world with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane and David Beckham.
"Seba" will team with equally talented players in the national team, particularly Pablo Aimar. Valencia won the bidding war for the player's services and was rewarded in 2002 as the attacking midfielder to help the club win "La Liga" for the first time in 31 years.
Another Argentine also played a signifcant role in Valencia's success. Roberto Ayala was featured in the stingiest defense in the Spanish League during the 2001-02 campaign. Roma central defender Walter Samuel further underlines the quality along Argentina's back line.
No matter who Bielsa puts in the starting 11, Argentina's remarkable depth of world-class talent makes the two-time World Cup winner amongst the favorites for the 2002 title.
ENGLAND
FIFA Rank: 12
Qualified: Europe -- Group 9 winner
World Cup appearances: 10
World Cup record: 20-12-13
World Cup goals: 62-42
Best performance: Champions 1966
Uniform Colors: white, red, navy, blue
Schedule: Sunday, June 2 vs. Sweden (at Saitama); Friday, June 7 vs. Argentina (at Sapporo); Wednesday, June 12 vs. Nigeria (at Osaka).
Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson
Key Players: David Beckham (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Liverpool), Sol Campbell (Arsenal).
Outlook: If there is a way to suffer an injury, then it seems England's footballers will find it.
Captain David Beckham led the way, breaking a bone in his right foot in Manchester United's Champions League quarterfinal against Deportivo Coruna. A finalist for the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award, Beckham is arguably the world's best free-kick specialist and supplier of crosses, making him irreplaceable for England.
At least Beckham looks like he will be able to take the field. But in another blow to the midfield, Steven Gerrard injured his groin and underwent surgery which sidelined for the World Cup. Perhaps his greatest performance in an England jersey came in September, when England thrashed Germany, 5-1.
He also helped Liverpool teammate and England marksman Michael Owen record a hat trick in that famous victory. Despite being one of the great goal-scorer in world fotball, Owen, the reigning European Footballer of the Year, has delicate hamstrings which are never more than an awkward stride away from injury.
Beckham, Gerrard and Owen are England's three proven world-class players. With the trio intact, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson's side is capable of recording other Munich-esque triumphs. But with Beckham likely playing his first competitive match in two months in England's first-round opener and Gerrard being absent, the English do not look like the title challengers many considered them to be.
Unfortunately for England, the injuries do not stop there.
Kieron Dyer, the 23-year-old expected to fill England's unsettled left-sided midfield role, suffered a knee injury during the final weekend of the English Premier League season. The Newcastle player has recovered sufficiently to join the England squad, but not enough to take the field and display his flair and creativity.
Nicky Butt, the anticipated replacement for Gerrard, sustained damaged knee ligaments late in the season with Manchester United. Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves played well in that role on May 21 in England's 1-1 draw against South Korea and may find himself starting when the event gets underway.
However, that still leaves Paul Scholes as England's lone first-choice starter in the midfield who has remained free from injury.
But much as Paul Gascoigne did at Italia '90 and Owen at France '98, talented 20-year-old Joe Cole may find himself with the opportunity to display his dazzling skills on the world stage. He even wears jersey No. 19, the same one worn by "Gazza" 12 years ago.
The West Ham midfielder is as capable of losing the ball in a dangerous situation as he is dribbling through an opponent's defense. His turnover in the friendly against Italy directly lead to the equalizer.
England possess a defense that is strong up the middle, but potentially vulnerable at fullback.
The tandem of Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand finally gives England two central defenders who can both defend extremely well and look comfortable with the ball in their possession.
Ashley Cole has firmly established himself as England' left back and rightly so. The young Arsenal defender gives England an extra dimension going forward, but can struggle with his defensive duties.
Gary Neville, England's starter at right back, also suffered a broken bone in his foot and will miss the tournament. Though not a great defender, Neville's value came through his understanding with Man. United teammate Beckham on the right flank.
Leeds' Danny Mills will take Neville's spot, but the referee may as well issue him a yellow card prior to the match as his short fuse often gets him booked.
Eriksson will need to find a way to produce scoring chances if his most creative players are unable to go. But England's depleted squad, once given consideration as World Cup champions, could be relegated to first-round strugglers.
NIGERIA
FIFA Rank: 27
Qualified: Africa -- Group B winner
World Cup appearances: 2
World Cup record: 4-4-0
World Cup goals: 13-13
Uniform Colors: green, white
Schedule: Sunday, June 2 vs. Argentina (at Ibaraki); Friday, June 7 vs. Sweden (at Kobe); Wednesday, June 12 vs. England (at Osaka).
Coach: Adegboye Onigbinde
Key Players: Nwankwo Kanu (Arsenal, England), Celestine Babayaro (Chelsea, England), Austin "Jay Jay" Okocha (Paris Saint-Germain, France).
Outlook: Nigeria has found its form heading into the 2002 World Cup.
Long regarded as Africa's most talented footballing nation, Nigeria has gone unbeaten in its last five matches (4
1), including a stunning 2-1 road win over Ireland. The Irish had not lost at Landsdowne Road in two years.
Adegboye Onigbinde has coached the "Super Eagles" to the unbeaten streak. He replaced Shaibu Amodu in February, when Nigeria failed to win the African Nations Cup.
The Nigerian team contains top-class players in all parts of the field. Up front, Nwankwo Kanu is a member of the Arsenal squad that won "the double" in England.
An unorthodox midfielder, Augustine "Jay Jay" Okocha employs stunning dribbling and unique tricks to control the midfield. The Paris St. Germain player helped Nigeria win the 1994 African Nations Cup and the 1996 Olympic gold medal.
Celestine Babayaro is the team's best defender. But he also represents the most significant injury concern. The Chelsea player missed his club's final matches in the English Premier League season due to a thigh strain. Despite joining the squad for the Ireland encounter, he has yet to participate in a full practice and time is not on his side with the World Cup just days away.
A country which is known for surprising behavior in the realm of football, including pay disputes with its players during tournaments, Nigeria's provisional 23-man squad features some stunning omissions. Captain Sunday Oliseh of Borussia Dortmund and striker Finidi George of Ipswich Town were not included in the roster.
Seemingly the result of a dispute with the Nigerian Football Association, the "Super Eagles" suffered a letdown at France '98, exiting in the second round at the hands of an inferior Denmark side.
Will dropping two World Cup veterans provoke a similar rift in 2002? If not, Nigeria has the ability to defeat most comers.
SWEDEN
FIFA Rank: 19
Qualified: Europe -- Group 4 winner
World Cup appearances: 9
World Cup record: 14-15-9
World Cup goals: 66-60
Best finish: 1958 -- Runner-up
Uniform Colors: gold, blue, white
Schedule: Sunday, June 2 vs. England (at Saitama); Friday, June 7 vs. Nigeria (at Kobe); Wednesday, June 12 vs. Argentina (at Miyagi).
Coach: Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback
Key Players: Henrik Larsson (Celtic, Scotland), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal, England), Magnus Hedman (Coventry, England).
Outlook: Sweden does not spring to mind when listing world soccer powers, despite its rich history.
The Swedes lost to Brazil in the 1958 World Cup final, finished third at USA 1994 and took fourth at the 1938 competition. Aside from the Netherlands, which holds the runner-up tag in 1974 and 1978, Sweden may be the best footballing nation never to win the trophy.
Henrik Larsson will lead the Swedish attack. The winner of the 2001 "Golden Boot" as Europe's top scorer, Larsson has found the net at a phenomenal rate for Scottish champion Celtic. This season, the 30-year-old tallied 29 goals in the Glasgow club's 38 league games. No team can afford to give him a half chance around the penalty area.
Larsson also tallied eight goals, including four penalties, during qualification. His striking partner, Marcus Allback, was the team's second highest scorer with four. The 29-year-old particularly is adept at tactical runs which free up space for Larsson.
Fredrik Ljungberg will look to maintain his stunning club form in Korea/Japan. The English Premier League's Player of the Month for May, the midfielder helped Arsenal win "the double" as Premiership and FA Cup champions. Ljungberg displayed his ability to raise his level of play in big games, becoming the first player in 40 years to score in consecutive FA Cup finals.
In defense, Patrik Andersson stars for the Swedes. Accustomed to playing big games for big clubs, the 30-year-old captain completed his first season at Barcelona after winning the 2001 Champions League title with Bayern Munich.
Goalkeeper Magnus Hedman also keys Sweden's defensive success, conceding just three goals during his country's unbeaten qualifying campaign.
Sweden's coaching duo of Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback did sustain a pair of injury blows to their squads, though. Reserve goalie Magnus Kihlstedt and defender Tomas Antonelius were injured playing for FC Copenhagen in a Danish League clash with Brondby.
Despite those injuries, Soderberg and Lagerback's side maintains the qualities that keep Swedish teams so competitive. Combining a tremendous work rate, organization and ferocious determination, Sweden will give any side trouble in the tournament.
