1 GK VAN DER SAR Edwin - (Manchester Utd., ENG)
2 DF JALIENS Kew - (AZ Alkmaar, NED)
3 DF BOULAHROUZ Khalid - (Hamburger SV, GER)
4 DF MATHIJSEN Joris - (AZ Alkmaar, NED)
5 DF VAN BRONCKHORST Giovanni - (Barcelona, ESP)
6 MF LANDZAAT Denny - (AZ Alkmaar, NED)
7 FW KUYT Dirk - (Feyenoord, NED)
8 MF COCU Phillip - (PSV Eindhoven, NED)
9 FW VAN NISTELROOIJ Ruud - (Manchester Utd., ENG)
10 MF VAN DER VAART Rafael - (Hamburger SV, GER)
11 FW ROBBEN Arjen - (Chelsea, ENG)
12 DF KROMKAMP Jan - (Liverpool, ENG)
13 DF OOIJER Andre - (PSV Eindhoven, NED)
14 DF HEITINGA John - (Ajax, NED)
15 DF DE CLER Tim - (AZ Alkmaar, NED)
16 MF MADURO Hedwiges - (Ajax, NED)
17 FW VAN PERSIE Robin - (Arsenal, ENG)
18 MF VAN BOMMEL Mark - (Barcelona, ESP)
19 FW VENNEGOOR OF HESSELINK Jan - (PSV Eindhoven, NED)
20 MF SNEIJDER Wesley - (Ajax, NED)
21 FW BABEL Ryan - (Ajax, NED)
22 GK TIMMER Henk - (AZ Alkmaar, NED)
23 GK STEKELENBURG Maarten - (Ajax, NED)
drunken_master
In a highly entertaining Group C game in Hamburg, two first half goals from Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola helped Argentina to a 2-1 win over Côte d'Ivoire in Hamburg on Saturday, 10 June 2006.
The Albiceleste took the lead in the 24th minute when Crespo scored a classic poacher’s goal. Henri Michel’s side failed to deal with a Juan Roman Riquelme free-kick and the Chelsea striker was on hand to turn the loose ball home.
Argentina doubled their advantage fourteen minutes later when Riquelme picked out Saviola with a great pass and the striker produced a beautiful finish to steer the ball past Jean-Jacques Tizie.
Didier Drogba, Crespo’s team-mate at Chelsea, gave the Ivorians hope with a goal eight minutes from time, but the South Americans hung on to secure the three points.
drunken_master
The Netherlands made a fine start to their World Cup on Sunday with a goal from the inspired Arjen Robben giving them a 1-0 victory over Serbia & Montenegro.
Marco van Basten's side confirmed their status as serious contenders for the title, dominating possession and combining patient build-up play with neat, quick passing in their opening Group C game.
Robben, comfortably the game's outstanding player, gave the Dutch the lead in the 18th minute with a cool left-footed finish after he raced clear of the Serbian defence to latch on to a pass from Robin van Persie.
The winger could have doubled his tally four minutes later with a fierce shot, which produced a spectacular one-handed save from Dragoslav Jevric.
Ominously, Robben said he was not even operating on top form. 'I'm happy with the way I played. I know that I can play even better but, especially in the second half, it was so hot. The important thing is we got three points,' he told reporters.
Robben's pace consistently caused problems for Serbian stand-in right back Nenad Djordjevic, starting as part of a defensive reshuffle caused by centre back Nemanja Vidic's suspension.
drunken_master
Argentina gave a fearsome show of attacking strength as they swept aside Group C rivals Serbia and Montenegro 6-0 in Gelsenkirchen on Friday.
Jose Pekerman's team equalled their record FIFA World Cup™ win against Peru from 1978 against opponents they had, coincidentally, dismantled by the same score at the 2004 Olympic Football Tournament.
More importantly, the victory took them a big step closer to the second round, while leaving Serbia and Montenegro’s hopes hanging by a thread.
The flow of goals began in the sixth minute with Maxi Rodriguez and after Esteban Cambiasso had doubled the lead in the 31st minute, Rodriguez struck again to make it 3-0 ten minutes later.
There was no respite for Serbia and Montenegro after the break as, following the dismissal of Mateja Kezman, Hernan Crespo hit Argentina's fourth in the 78th minute.
Substitutes Carlos Tevez (84') and Lionel Messi (88') completed the scoring in the final ten minutes.
If anyone doubted Argentina's credentials, they can doubt no more. As for Serbia and Montenegro, this ‘nightmare group’ has become just that.
drunken_master
The most highly-anticipated match of the entire group stage takes place in Frankfurt on Wednesday night, with Jose Pekerman's breathtaking Argentinians taking on Marco van Basten's exciting young Holland side.
However, with both teams already securing their passage to the final 16 the occasion is likely to be spoiled somewhat by a number of cautionary changes from both coaches, as a number of players are walking a disciplinary tightrope with another booking ruling them out of the second round.
The South Americans, who have never beaten Holland over 90 minutes in their six previous meetings, need only a draw to top Group C, but on the evidence of their exhilarating 6-0 destruction of Serbia & Montenegro they are not a team to rest on their laurels.
Oranje should provide a much sterner test given that they have lost just once in their last 23 games, and either Portugal or Mexico are likely to await the two powers in the last 16.
Dutch coach van Basten has already stated he is set to rest a number of those players with yellow cards, meaning Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Khalid Boulahrouz, Johnny Heitinga, Arjen Robben, Joris Mathijsen and Mark van Bommel could all be left out.
Feyenoord hot-shot Dirk Kuyt could come in for Chelsea star Robben, whilst defenders such as Jan Kromkamp, Hedwiges Maduro and Tim de Cler will all hope to be given the nod.
Experienced midfielder Philip Cocu is expected to win his 100th cap after shaking off an ankle injury, whilst Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will equal Frank de Boer's all time record for international appearances with his 112th cap.
Argentina boss Pekerman will also rest a clutch of his players, as Javier Saviola, Gabriel Heinze and Hernan Crespo are all on the brink of suspension.
Lucho Gonzalez is also on a yellow card but the Porto midfielder is absent anyway due to a groin injury sustained in the destruction of Serbia & Montenegro.
First choice forwards Crespo and Saviola have been highly effective in the tournament so far, but if both are rested then the door could be opened to Julio Cruz and wonderkid Carlos Tevez - who scored in the famous 6-0 win.
Barcelona starlet Lionel Messi could start from the bench again even if prime playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme is rested, as Pablo Aimar could come in to orchestrate the Argentine attack.
Gabriel Milito is likely to replace Manchester United star Heinze if he is indeed rested, in a game that is unlikely to provide any keen insight into the relative values of the two teams given the number of changes expected.
