By Mike Woitalla in Hamburg
Forward Hernan Crespo said he swore like hell when he heard Argentina's draw for this World Cup. Fans cried conspiracy, noting archrival Brazil had once again landed in an easy group.
But the Group of Death is where the liveliest soccer has taken place. The Argentines, playing the tournament's best soccer, constantly attacking with flair and precision, have clinched second-round passage before facing the feared Dutch.
At the heart of the Argentine game is playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, the latest in a long line of players pegged to be the next Diego Maradona, who inspired Argentina to its last World Cup title 20 years ago.
In Argentina's 2-1 opening win in Hamburg against the Ivory Coast, the strongest African team at this tournament, Riquelme glided across the midfield before delivering passes into areas were the swift, powerful Ivorians were vulnerable.
Defenders six inches taller than Javier Saviola could not prevent him from scoring thanks to Riquelme's clever, low pass that put Saviola through before the danger was realized. Riquelme had also set up Crespo's strike with a free-kick cross.
Despite the promising first step, Argentine fans and media still feared a repeat of the 2002 debacle. Then, too, did Argentina open with a one-goal win over an African opponent, Nigeria, before facing two European foes and going out in the first round
This time, the Argentines faced Serbia & Montenegro, which had conceded only one goal in 10 qualifying games.
But after six minutes, four players combined passes before Maxi Rodriguez finished. Another neat set of passes through heart of the defense and a back-heel pass from Crespo set Esteban Cambiasso to stab home the second.
It was part of a 6-0 rout, the most emphatic victory the tournament has seen so far. Taking part in the onslaught were two late subs who didn't get off the bench against the Ivory Coast, demonstrating the Argentine wealth of young talent.
First came 22-year-old Carlos Tevez, a bull with a golden touch, then Lionel Messi, the 18-year-old Barcelona star. Messi and Tevez each scored and assisted.
Argentina's disappointing 2002 World Cup — and its failure to reach the semifinals since 1990 — took the team off the short list of favorites. Now it tops the list.
That the Netherlands, which opened with a 1-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro, defeated Ivory Coast, 2-1, meant the Group of Death was settled before the final games. The much awaited Dutch-Argentina game will play a role only in determining the teams' second-round placements.
''We watched their 6-0 win in the locker room on TV and saw their type of soccer,'' said Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. ''Pretty impressive.''