Argentina wait until last moment to name team

HERZOGENAURACH, Germany, June 20: Argentina will wait until the last minute to announce their team for the Group C decider against Netherlands in Frankfurt tomorrow.

''I haven't told the players the lineup yet,'' coach Jose Pekerman told a news conference, breaking with the pattern of naming his team early.

''Aside from the superstition (of sticking to habit), there are situations that are different,'' Pekerman said at Argentina's World Cup base before taking his squad to Frankfurt.

Group leaders Argentina and the Netherlands, who trail them only on goal difference, have qualified for the second round and will be playing only for top place tomorrow.

Pekerman, like his Dutch counterpart Marco van Basten, is considering what changes to make to a team that has been playing brilliantly, notably when they crushed Serbia&Montenegro 6-0 in their last match in Gelsenkirchen on Friday.

One issue under consideration is the yellow cards picked up by strikers Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola along with defender Gabriel Heinze. They could all be rested so the bookings are cleared at the end of the group stage.

''This is a possibility that is latent but I can't confirm (the team) now,'' said Pekerman, who named his lineup to face Ivory Coast and Serbia the day before the matches.

''Any changes will be made without any drama,'' Pekerman said.

''Knowing that (others) can slot in gives me a lot of tranquillity.'' The Group C winners are likely to face Portugal or Mexico, although Angola still have a faint chance of qualifying.

REUTERS

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