Messi to miss Argentina game; England, Sweden hopeful

Jun 9, 2006, 17:03 GMT

Hamburg - Argentina coach Jose Pekerman confirmed that Lionel Messi will start on the bench against Ivory Coast Saturday and that in his absence Javier Saviola will partner Hernan Crespo in attack.

Messi played 22 minutes of Argentina's final friendly against Angola last week but has not completed a full match since injuring his thigh against Chelsea in the Champions League in March.

With his eyes set firmly on Argentina going the distance and Messi playing his part further down the line, Pekerman said: 'We can't be Champions from the first game. The tournament is just beginning. We are looking for a formation that will give us good balance.'

Pekerman has selected the following 11 for Argentina's first game of the tournament: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Nicolas Burdisso, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorin, Maximiliano Rodriguez, Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Saviola and Hernan Crespo.

The Argentina coach said: 'I'm sure this team will give a good performance in our first game. The players are looking good. We have to have a strategy for the whole tournament not just for this game. Everyone is fit including those who we were doubtful about before.'

And he explained his decision to pick Saviola to partner Crespo in attack: 'I picked him for a number of reasons. He has a good understanding with Roman Riquelme for one. (Carlos) Tevez, (Rodrigo) Palacios and (Julio) Cruz are in good form and could give us other options at some point.'

Argentina's opponents Ivory Coast are preparing for their first game in the tournament and hopes will depend on Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. Pekerman is well aware of the threat of the striker.

He said: 'It is not just his power in the air in the penalty box. He comes back and uses the ball very well. Are central defenders have an important job to do and when he comes deeper Javier Mascherano needs to be aware of him.'

Argentina's group conquerors from four years ago England face Paraguay with on-form Peter Crouch starting up-front next to Michael Owen.

Crouch replaces Wayne Rooney who is unlikely to play any part in England's group matches. Crouch netted a hat-trick against Jamaica in England's final warm-up game last weekend and Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz has admitted that the 2.04-metre striker is a 'concern' for him.

'We rarely come across players like Peter Crouch. Very seldom,' he said. Ruiz isn't alone. When asked if he had ever seen a player like Crouch, Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz quickly replied: 'Yes, in the NBA.'

England are notoriously slow starters in major tournaments and haven't won an opening match at a finals since 1998, when they beat Tunisia 2-0 at the World Cup in France. The South Americans, playing in their third World Cup in a row and seventh overall, will be hoping to take full advantage.

England's only injury doubt is Steven Gerrard who missed training earlier in the week with a back complaint. Owen Hargreaves is on stand-by but the Liverpool midfielder is likely to make the opener.

Paraguay's major injury doubt is Bayern Munich striker Santa Cruz, who is on his way back from an anterior ligament injury in his knee. 'You notice a difference every day. I'll be well enough for England,' said the 24-year-old. 'But I don't know whether I'll be able for 90 minutes yet.'

Later Saturday, the other two teams in Group B, Sweden and Trinidad & Tobago, face off in Dortmund.

Sweden have goalkeeper problems ahead of their game with Trinidad & Tobago. First choice Andreas Isaksson was hit in the face by a shot in training and will miss the opener.

Sweden coach, Lars Lagerback will call-up Rami Shaaban of Norwegian side Fredrikstad as Isaksson's replacement.

Leo Beenhakker, coach of Sweden's rivals Trinidad & Tobago, recognises his side are huge underdogs in the opening tie. He said: 'Normally Sweden would be the stronger team but what is normal in football.'