GROUP F / ARGENTINA

*--* World Cup record: Played 57 (30-18-9); goals for 100: goals against: 69 Best finish: Champion in 1978, 1986 1998 showing: Eliminated by the Netherlands in the quarterfinals Coach: Marcelo Bielsa. Is he the crazed obsessive who justifies the nickname “El Loco” or a wizard who has outfoxed the world with his unorthodox 3-3-1-3 formation? Argentina will have an answer as soon as the whistle blows on the June 30 World Cup final Players to watch: Gabriel Batistuta, Hernan Crespo, Juan Sebastian Veron, Claudio Lopez, Ariel Ortega, Javier Zanetti In brief: Along with France, the most talented team in the tournament. So much talent, in fact, that Batistuta, one of the world’s best strikers, might not be able to crack the starting lineup. Too many skilled players and not enough positions have scuttled Argentina more than once in previous Cups Quick quote: “In a country where the most important thing is the result, I have to follow the norm.”--Bielsa Forecast: Anything less than the semifinals would be a disappointment

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