Sweden v Argentina
Wednesday 12th June 2002 7.30 BST, Miyagi
Sweden 1 Argentina 1
Svensson 59; Crespo 88
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Oh, I feel sorry for the Argentinians, eliminated in the first round of a World Cup, for the first time in 40 years. And yet I felt elated for the Swedes. Pity there hadn't been a way that both the teams could've qualified. You can't say that Argentina didn't try, really, really hard - it just wasn't going to be their day. At the same time, if any team really deserved to qualify from this group, it had to be Sweden. Svensson's free-kick which resulted in the goal, was exquisite. But the Argies kept on coming - and eventually got some sort of reward for their efforts, when Ortega was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Hedman parried Ortega's penalty kick, but the ball fell into the path of Crespo and he obliged with his first (and last) goal of this tournament. If Argentina had then gone on to win the game, I would've been happy for them. But it would've been a real kick in the face for Sweden if that had happened.
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Teams
Sweden: Hedman, Mellberg, Mjallby, Jakobsson, Lucic, Alexandersson, Linderoth, Anders Svensson (Jonson 68), Magnus Svensson, Larsson (Ibrahimovic 88), Allback (Andreas Andersson 45).
Booked: Magnus Svensson, Larsson.
Argentina: Cavallero, Zanetti, Samuel, Pocchettino, Chamot, Ortega, Almeyda (Veron 63), Sorin (Gonzalez 63), Aimar, Claudio Lopez, Batistuta (Crespo 58).
Sent off: Caniggia (from the bench)
Booked: Chamot, Almeyda, Gonzalez.
Attendance: 45,777
Referee: A Bujsaim (United Arab Emirates).

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