Stalemate sees Argentina top
Stalemate sees Argentina top
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Wednesday, 21, Jun 2006 10:05
Argentina have won Group D after a 0-0 stalemate with Holland in Frankfurt.
The game had been seen as the biggest of the tournament so far but with both sides making a host of changes, it didn't live up to the huge expectations.
Argentina's teenage prodigy, Lionel Messi, gained his first World Cup start and it was his pass on eight minutes which found Esteban Cambiasso breaking forward.
He was denied a shot though by a wonderful tackle by Khalid Boulahrouz.
The South Americans remained the more potent side in the opening 45 minutes and Carlos Tevez signalled their intent on 16 minutes with a shot that rolled just wide of the upright.
A defensive slip allowed the Dutch a chance on 18 minutes but Dirk Kuyt's shot from a narrow angle was kept out by Roberto Abbondanzieri.
The best chance of the half came from Boulahrouz on 29 minutes but it was at the wrong end for the Dutch as he diverted a dangerous cross from Juan Roman Riquelme onto his own post.
Maxi Rodriguez flashed a shot just wide on the half-hour mark but then the game died down until Riquelme did the same eight minutes into the second-half.
Tevez produced a good diving stop from Edwin van der Sar with 16 minutes remaining after a good interchange with Riquelme but after some stout defending, Holland came into the game more in the last 15 minutes.
However, they couldn't create a decent opportunity and the game petered out for a point which both sides deserved on the night.
Argentina will now play Mexico on Saturday, while the Dutch will face Portugal on Sunday.