By Chris Lehourites
The Associated Press
Argentina and the Netherlands made the World Cup’s toughest group look easy.
The Argentines routed Serbia-Montenegro 6-0 Friday in the most dominating display so far at this year’s tournament. Rising stars Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez both made their World Cup debuts and scored late goals.
The Dutch had a harder time against Ivory Coast in the other Group C match and still managed a 2-1 win, sending both Argentina and themselves into the second round. Both are expected to go far this year despite getting the difficult draw.
“This is a very good group,” Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso said. “The team is solid, and we have a lot of confidence. ... It couldn’t have gone better.”
Germany, England and Ecuador had already qualified for the knockout stage.
Later Friday, Angola held favored Mexico to a 0-0 draw in Hanover in Group D.
Argentina has won the World Cup twice, with Diego Maradona leading the way in 1986. The former striker was cheerleading in the stands at Gelsenkirchen.
Maxi Rodriguez scored two goals in the first half and Cambiasso added a third. Hernan Crespo made it 4-0 in the 78th before Tevez and Messi finished off the scoring.
“This was an incredible performance,” Rodriguez said.
Seventeen players on the 23-man team played for Jose Pekerman when he coached his country to world youth titles in 1995, ’97 and 2001. Now he has them on the World Cup squad.
Cambiasso, who entered in the 17th minute for the injured Luis Gonzalez, scored the classic goal as Argentina held possession with a string of two dozen passes. At the finish, Saviola found Cambiasso, who passed to Crespo, who back-heeled the ball for Cambiasso’s left-footed finish.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” Cambiasso said. “The moment I came in, one of the first balls I touch is a goal.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie scored a goal each in Stuttgart for the Dutch, a two-time finalist looking for a first title.
Van Persie made a run from the right and was floored on the edge of the area by Kolo Toure in the 23rd minute. He then lined up a free kick that clattered into the upper right corner before goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie could get a hand up in time.
The Dutch finished off their opponents with a six-pass move from defense four minutes later. In the end, Arjen Robben sent Van Nistelrooy through to score.
Late in the match, Van Persie chested a ball off the line in a goalmouth scramble.
“We pinned them down far back,” Van Nistelrooy said. “It was what won the match.”
Ivory Coast forward Bakary Kone used his speed to score with a sharp-angled drive well outside the reach of Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Angola goalkeeper Joao Ricardo frustrated Mexico with some dramatic saves to help the World Cup newcomers hold Mexico to a scoreless draw.
Angola, which was reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when Andre was sent off for getting a second yellow card, earned its first point at the World Cup while keeping Mexico from winning its second straight.
Ricardo’s most desperate effort came in the 57th minute, racing off his line and leaping to thwart Guillermo Franco’s attempt to chip him from inside the penalty area. Second-half substitute Jesus Arellano put the rebound back on goal, but Jamba cleared the ball off the line.
The result left Mexico atop Group D with four points.
The Associated Press
Argentina and the Netherlands made the World Cup’s toughest group look easy.
The Argentines routed Serbia-Montenegro 6-0 Friday in the most dominating display so far at this year’s tournament. Rising stars Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez both made their World Cup debuts and scored late goals.
The Dutch had a harder time against Ivory Coast in the other Group C match and still managed a 2-1 win, sending both Argentina and themselves into the second round. Both are expected to go far this year despite getting the difficult draw.
“This is a very good group,” Argentina midfielder Esteban Cambiasso said. “The team is solid, and we have a lot of confidence. ... It couldn’t have gone better.”
Germany, England and Ecuador had already qualified for the knockout stage.
Later Friday, Angola held favored Mexico to a 0-0 draw in Hanover in Group D.
Argentina has won the World Cup twice, with Diego Maradona leading the way in 1986. The former striker was cheerleading in the stands at Gelsenkirchen.
Maxi Rodriguez scored two goals in the first half and Cambiasso added a third. Hernan Crespo made it 4-0 in the 78th before Tevez and Messi finished off the scoring.
“This was an incredible performance,” Rodriguez said.
Seventeen players on the 23-man team played for Jose Pekerman when he coached his country to world youth titles in 1995, ’97 and 2001. Now he has them on the World Cup squad.
Cambiasso, who entered in the 17th minute for the injured Luis Gonzalez, scored the classic goal as Argentina held possession with a string of two dozen passes. At the finish, Saviola found Cambiasso, who passed to Crespo, who back-heeled the ball for Cambiasso’s left-footed finish.
“It couldn’t have gone any better,” Cambiasso said. “The moment I came in, one of the first balls I touch is a goal.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie scored a goal each in Stuttgart for the Dutch, a two-time finalist looking for a first title.
Van Persie made a run from the right and was floored on the edge of the area by Kolo Toure in the 23rd minute. He then lined up a free kick that clattered into the upper right corner before goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie could get a hand up in time.
The Dutch finished off their opponents with a six-pass move from defense four minutes later. In the end, Arjen Robben sent Van Nistelrooy through to score.
Late in the match, Van Persie chested a ball off the line in a goalmouth scramble.
“We pinned them down far back,” Van Nistelrooy said. “It was what won the match.”
Ivory Coast forward Bakary Kone used his speed to score with a sharp-angled drive well outside the reach of Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Angola goalkeeper Joao Ricardo frustrated Mexico with some dramatic saves to help the World Cup newcomers hold Mexico to a scoreless draw.
Angola, which was reduced to 10 men in the 79th minute when Andre was sent off for getting a second yellow card, earned its first point at the World Cup while keeping Mexico from winning its second straight.
Ricardo’s most desperate effort came in the 57th minute, racing off his line and leaping to thwart Guillermo Franco’s attempt to chip him from inside the penalty area. Second-half substitute Jesus Arellano put the rebound back on goal, but Jamba cleared the ball off the line.
The result left Mexico atop Group D with four points.
