World Cup 2002: Group F (Arg, Eng, Nig, Swe)

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1

Ok guys, here it is, the famous group F.

The teams are

Argentina
England
Sweden
Nigeria

Here is the scheduale


Match Date Time Teams Venue 
5 02 Jun 18:30 England :  Sweden Saitama 
7 02 Jun 14:30 Argentina :  Nigeria Ibaraki 
21 07 Jun 15:30 Sweden :  Nigeria Kobe 
23 07 Jun 20:30 Argentina :  England Sapporo 
37 12 Jun 15:30 Sweden :  Argentina Miyagi 
38 12 Jun 15:30 Nigeria :  England Osaka

Argentina

Here are the squad for each team as follows

1 BURGOS German (GK)
2 AYALA Roberto
3 SORIN Juan
4 POCHETTINO Mauricio
5 ALMEYDA Matias
6 SAMUEL Walter
7 LOPEZ Claudio
8 ZANETTI Javier
9 BATISTUTA Gabriel
11 VERON Juan
12 CAVALLERO Pablo (GK)
13 PLACENTE Diego
14 SIMEONE Diego
15 HUSAIN Claudio
16 AIMAR Pablo
17 LOPEZ Gustavo
18 GONZALEZ Kily
19 CRESPO Hernan
20 GALLARDO Marcelo
21 CANIGGIA Claudio
22 CHAMOT Jose
23 ORTEGA Ariel
BONANO Roberto (GK)

Argentina, obviously the number one favirotes to win the world cup in Korea/Japan, also along with the defending champions France.
So far they have won 2 world cup titles, first in 78 in their home and second one in 86 in Mexico over the ever favirote West Germany, with some great performance by one of the greatest football player of alltime, Diego Maradona.
With 13 appearences in the world cup, Argentina has been the most successful team from South America after their neighbors and arch rivals Brazil.

England

Here is the squad as follows

1 SEAMAN David (GK)
2 MILLS Danny
3 COLE Ashley
4 MURPHY Danny
5 FERDINAND Rio
6 CAMPBELL Sol
7 BECKHAM David
8 SCHOLES Paul
9 FOWLER Robbie
10 OWEN Michael
11 HESKEY Emile
12 BROWN Wes
13 MARTYN Nigel (GK)
14 BRIDGE Wayne
15 KEOWN Martin
16 SOUTHGATE Gareth
17 SHERINGHAM Teddy
18 HARGREAVES Owen
19 COLE Joe
20 VASSELL Darius
21 BUTT Nicky
22 JAMES David (GK)
23 DYER Kieron

England, as so called the home of football is also one of the top ten contenders to win the title but before that they have to go against the mighty Argentines in their group.
After a dissappointing run in 98 and unable to qualify in 94, England are looking better in a long time.
Eventhough their star players are hit with injuries, mainly the team captain David Beckham, the team goalie David Seamen and the center midfield Brian Murphy.
England has only won the world cup once in the history, 1966, and that was against Netherlands in their own backyard.

Nigeria

Here is the squad as follows

1 SHORUNMU Ike (GK)
2 YOBO Joseph
3 BABAYARO Celestine
4 KANU Nwankwo
5 OKORONKWO Isaac
6 WEST Taribo
7 IKEDIA Pius
8 ADEPOJU Mutiu
9 OGBECHE Bartholomew
10 OKOCHA Jay Jay
11 LAWAL Garba
12 EJIDE Austin (GK)
13 AFOLABI Rabiu
14 UDEZE Ifeanyi
15 CHRISTOPHER Justice
16 SODJE Efetobore
17 AGHAHOWA Julius
18 AKWUEGBU Benedict
19 EJIOFOR Eric
20 OBIORAH James
21 UTAKA John
22 ENYEAMA Vincent (GK)
23 OPABUNMI Femi

Nigeria, probably one of the under rated teams entering this world cup are the only hope for the continent of Africa.
Regardless of 3 other teams from their continent entering the tourney but Nigeria has the highes chance of bringing the title to the african continent first time in the history.
With their star player Kanu from Arsenal in great form, they might be putting all out against England and Argentina.

Sweden

Here is the squad for Sweden as follows

1 HEDMAN Magnus (GK)
2 MELLBERG Olof
3 ANDERSSON Patrik
4 MJALLBY Johan
5 SVENSSON Michael
6 LINDEROTH Tobias
7 ALEXANDERSSON Niclas
8 SVENSSON Anders
9 LJUNGBERG Freddie
10 ALLBACK Marcus
11 LARSSON Henrik
12 KIHLSTEDT Magnus (GK)
13 ANTONELIUS Tomas
14 EDMAN Erik
15 JAKOBSSON Andreas
16 LUCIC Teddy
17 SVENSSON Magnus
18 JONSON Mattias
19 FARNERUD Pontus
20 ANDERSSON Daniel
21 IBRAHIMOVIC Zlatan
22 ANDERSSON Andreas
23 ISAKSSON Andreas (GK

Sweden, another under rated team will compete against 2 gianst and a fairly even Nigeria in their group. Surprising to say, they have made 10 appearences in WC, but failing to win in any of them. Their farthest place have been in semi finals, not once but twice, first one in 58 in sweden and 2nd one in US, where they lost the dramatic WC semifinal match to champion of that time Brazil.
Just like Argeintina and Nigeria, Sweden will also have a player from the EPL, Freddie Ljunberg, the most successfull player next to France’s Thiery Henry for the Arsenal’s winning season.

here are my predictions for the whole group

England vs Sweden 2-1
Argentina vs Nigeria 3-0
Sweden vs Nigerina 1-1
Argentina vs England 3-1
Sweden vs Argentina 1-1
Nigeria vs England 2-1

Here is how the turnout will be at the end of preliminary matches.
1.) Argentina
2.) Sweden
3.) Nigeria
4.) England

2

Umair bhai, I will be rooting for England, hope they get through to the round of 16.

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited May 26, 2002).]

3

Engalnd drew with Cameroon 2-2, the last warm up match before the world cup. England equalised in the last minute. Not a very encouraging result for England

4

Nigeria might show more of it's talent here, than at the African Cup.
I hope Nigeria goes through only when showing good football, otherwise I'll hope England does qualify for 2nd round.

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

5
  1. Argentina
  2. England

Anything else would surprise me.

Umer, the Pakistani Brain of Austria

6

[quote]
Originally posted by Umer:
**1. Argentina
2. England

Anything else would surprise me.

**
[/quote]

Agreed..Though Sweden is full of surprises..This groupis groupof death.So cant be sure.

7

My pick for this group will be Sweden

ALLAH Hafiz-o-Nigheban

8

[quote]
Originally posted by Pehalwan:
**My pick for this group will be Sweden

**
[/quote]

What?? Are you kidding?

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

9
  1. Argentina
  2. Nigeria
  3. England

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif

  1. Sweden
10

Beckham all set for Swedish start
http://threelions.sports.com/football/news/2002/05/29/sLON01MTAyMjY1OTU3MjI.html

11

The most difficult group of the preliminary rounds starts tomorrow with two matches:

Sweden V England: Hope to see England beat Sweden here.

Argentina V Nigeria: could be a very good match but Argentina might just squeeze through

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited June 01, 2002).]

12

[quote]
Originally posted by ehsan:
**The most difficult group of the preliminary rounds starts tomorrow with two matches:

Sweden V England: Hope to see England beat Sweden here.

Argentina V Nigeria: could be a very good match but Argentina might just squeeze through

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited June 01, 2002).]**
[/quote]

ARG Vs Nigeria...
Arg wins 1-0.

What a match !!!!!
Argentina looks very solid team..
Nigeria also played a good soccer.

13

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/en/020602/2/ovg.html

ARGENTINA 1 : 0 NIGERIA
by FIFAworldcup.com

A second half header by Gabriel Batistuta gave favourites Argentina a narrow, but deserved, win over a determined Nigeria. The Group F match-winner was an excellent effort from the back post off of a Juan Veron corner kick.
The low score line was misleading as both sides played attacking, skilful football in Ibaraki, Japan. Argentina especially created many chances, largely behind the explosive combination of captain Veron and Ariel Ortega. The Argentine’s will undoubtedly take confidence from their performance as they head into the match against England on 7 June. Nigeria face Sweden next on the same day.

Both sides clearly had attacking on their mind from the beginning, and although Nigeria had their dangerous moments, it was Argentina who carried the attack, with midfield general Juan Veron repeatedly picking out Gabriel Batistuta up the middle and Ariel Ortega wreaking havoc up the right wing.

Nigeria gifted Argentina a scoring chance that the Africans were lucky to come away from without having to take the ball out of their net. Goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu sent a goal kick straight to Batistuta, but Shorunmu did well to dive to his left and stop the Roma striker’s shot from just inside the area (20’).

A turnover after a Nigeria throw-in gave Ortega a chance to fire a screamer from 25 metres that Shorunmu could only parry out for a corner with his right hand (30’).

Jay Jay Okocha matched Ortega’s effort minutes later. He created the chance for himself by beating Juan Sorin on the dribble and blasting a rocket from 25 metres, and Pablo Cavallero only just deflected it over the bar with his fingertips (32’).

Despite all the fine chances, the half ended without a goal, though Argentina were perhaps unlucky to head into the dressing room without the lead.

Nigeria suffered a blow just after the interval, as striker Nwankwo Kanu had to come off because of an injury he had sustained in the first half.

Argentina twice almost got the first goal in the opening minutes of the second half. First a sliding Batistuta couldn’t get enough of the ball to guide it inside the right post (48’), and then Sorin rose above the defenders but flicked his header wide of the back post (49’).

Sorin had another gem of a chance when Ortega lofted in a neat chip to the Cruzeiro man, but he fired his shot from 15 metres right at Shorunmu (61’).

Batistuta finally got Argentina’s goal when it seemed they would never convert one of their great chances. Veron served a corner kick from the left side, and “Batigol” rose above team-mates and defenders alike at the far post to head the ball down past Shorunmu (1:0, 63’). The Roma star has now scored 10 final-phase goals and at least one in three different finals.

Nigeria seemed to come alive after the Argentina goal, and they began producing their best attacking play of the match. The best look at goal fell to the foot of Okocha from 20 metres, but his shot flew high and wide (75’).

But Argentina kept attacking and their defence never cracked. Ultimately Nigeria could do nothing to keep Argentina from walking off deserved victors.

14

Yah both played very well ..

And my Hot Favourite Won by 1-0.

Go Argentina.

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/ok.gif

Now i am waiting for England Match .. Will be start here at 8:30 at night.

I’m Gonna Be The Champ
The Way I Wanna Be

Rude Boyz Rulez

15

England 1-1 Sweden

Damn it, Sweden should've won this match!I'm not just saying that bcuz I don't want the Brits to win but simply cuz Sweden was the better team.

16

England and Sweden was a good match, even though I was hoping for an English victory. Well never mind

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/frown.gif

http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/en/020602/2/p93.html

[This message has been edited by ehsan (edited June 02, 2002).]

17

[quote]
Originally posted by ShiNoO:
**England 1-1 Sweden

Damn it, Sweden should've won this match!I'm not just saying that bcuz I don't want the Brits to win but simply cuz Sweden was the better team.**
[/quote]

I have to agree here. England played good the first have and the second was just a huge dissapointment. Maybe Ericsson should now realize that a british Team can't play just defensive.
Especially when having poor quality goal keeper like Seaman.

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

18

Unfortunately Nigeria lost I would have wished them beat Argentina. Well hopefully next game they will win.

“WatCh youR tHoughtS; they become words.
WatCh youR wOrdS; they become actions.
WatCh youR aCtiOns; they become habits.
WatCh youR hAbiTs; they become character.
WatCh youR chaRactEr; it becomes your dEsTinY."

19

Nigeria vs. Argentina was a thrill to watch. So many great saves. Made me jump a hundred times, yet no goal.

Nigeria had really good passing and speed. Nigeria should be proud of themselves, being to match up to Argentina really well throughout the game.

I tell ya man, it’s the hair that wins the games

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif

Argentina showed they have the experience, watch out England!

England did lose it in the second half. Had to wake up at 4:30am to watch this. Got a good relief that they drew and didn’t win.

Ali, I think you are very correct about the defence. They needed to play more long balls, giving the opportunity from the midfield to strike.

20

England's draw against Sweden was a huge dissapointment. But hopefully England would preform better against Argentina on Friday, although Argentina is a better team.