Sven-Goran Eriksson led the accolades for David Beckham after the England captain this time overcame the underhand tactics of Diego Simeone to guide his team to the brink of the World Cup knockout stages.

England skipper David Beckham completed a one-man revenge mission by kicking England to a win over Argentina in Sapporo this afternoon.

England skipper David Beckham completed a one-man revenge mission by kicking England to a win over Argentina in Sapporo this afternoon.

Owen Hargreaves has been replaced by Trevor Sinclair in the 18th minute of the game.

By Frank Malley

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa insists he is thinking only of booking a place in the second round of the World Cup - not of sending England home.

Juan Sebastian Veron has raised the temperature ahead of Argentina’s World Cup clash with England in Sapporo on Friday by raising the spectre of the Falklands War.

Juan Sebastian Veron has added fuel to the fire already raging between England and Argentina ahead of Friday’s crunch World Cup clash.

Revenge for Agentina’s defeat in the Falklands War is all the motivation goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero needs in Friday’s World Cup clash with England.

Gabriel Batistuta's 10th World Cup goal helped World Cup favourites Argentina kick-off their campaign with a hard-earned win in the Group F opener in Ibaraka.

Gabriel Batistuta's 10th World Cup goal helped World Cup favourites Argentina kick-off their campaign with a hard-earned win in the Group F opener in Ibaraka.

Gabriel Batistuta has got the nod to spearhead Argentina’s attack against Nigeria in Ibaraki on Sunday.

Gabriel Batistuta has been left out of the Argentina squad for their World Cup warm-up game with Cameroon on March 27.