Argentina team beefing up for challenge

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany, June 6 (Reuters) Not since Diego Maradona's father cooked the squad barbecues have Argentina won the World Cup.

Jose Pekerman's squad were given an official reception by local authorities at Turn Castle in Heroldsbach, 20 km from Nuremberg, last night with a typical Argentine ''asado'' (grill) and dances by a troupe of gauchos.

Insiders said they had not seen so many satisfied grins on the faces of the players since they arrived in Germany last week looking to win the World Cup for the third time for Argentina.

Diego Maradona senior did the honours at the grill at Argentina's World Cup base in Mexico City in 1986, the year his son inspired his country to their second world title.

Pekerman's squad are based at Herzogenaurach, outside Nuremberg, preparing to meet the Ivory Coast in their opening Group C match in Hamburg on Saturday. They also face Serbia and Montenegro and the Netherlands.

REUTERS DH ND1642