Beckham7
01-13-2002, 04:27 PM
Roma striker Gabriel Batistuta believes Argentina have the right blend in their squad to win the World Cup.
"We are different ages," he said. "I am 32 and lots of the others are 25 or 26; I am married and nearly all the rest are single.
"Maybe we don't do things socially as a squad, but once we get on the pitch we all fight for each other. There have never been any problems in the group because we all have the same goal – winning the World Cup."
Batistuta, who admitted earlier this season that he was at the lowest point of his career after a series of poor performances in Serie A, feels France will be the major challengers to Argentina this summer.
"We are the two best teams at the moment, but Argentina are the favourites to win the World Cup," he said.
“Our players are at the top of their game with the best teams in Europe and, when the national coach gathers us together, we have demonstrated that we all play well.
"But we must be careful at the World Cup. One mistake can lose a match. In football you never know. An offside or an error can mean you go home before you expect."
Argentina meet England on June 7 in the most eagerly-anticipated match of the first phase. Sweden and Nigeria complete the group.
"We are different ages," he said. "I am 32 and lots of the others are 25 or 26; I am married and nearly all the rest are single.
"Maybe we don't do things socially as a squad, but once we get on the pitch we all fight for each other. There have never been any problems in the group because we all have the same goal – winning the World Cup."
Batistuta, who admitted earlier this season that he was at the lowest point of his career after a series of poor performances in Serie A, feels France will be the major challengers to Argentina this summer.
"We are the two best teams at the moment, but Argentina are the favourites to win the World Cup," he said.
“Our players are at the top of their game with the best teams in Europe and, when the national coach gathers us together, we have demonstrated that we all play well.
"But we must be careful at the World Cup. One mistake can lose a match. In football you never know. An offside or an error can mean you go home before you expect."
Argentina meet England on June 7 in the most eagerly-anticipated match of the first phase. Sweden and Nigeria complete the group.