England meet Argentina in Cup group

World Cup 2002 kicks off on May 31

BUSAN, South Korea -- Defending champion France will face World Cup debutante Senegal in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul on May 31, while Argentina and England were drawn to renew their long soccer rivalry.

Cup favourite Argentina and England were drawn in Group F during the final draw at Busan's Bexco exhibition hall on Saturday.

The final of the the 32-team, 64-match tournament is due to be played in Yokohama, Japan, on June 30.

England's Swedish coach Sven Goran Eriksson told Reuters: "We are in the most difficult group. No doubt about that."

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Argentina won their last match in the second round of the 1998 finals in France on penalties against England in a match in which Manchester United star David Beckham was sent off.

Following the draw, on Saturday, England goalkeeper David Seaman added: "The Argentina game is a great chance for revenge after what had happened in '98.

"I'm sure Mr Beckham is quite pleased about that one."

England's first game will see them face Sweden, whom they have not beaten since 1968.

Argentina, ranked No. 2 behind France by FIFA, is the bookmakers' favourite and definitely looks like the team to beat with stars Gabriel Batistuta, Claudio Lopez, Hernan Crespo, Pablo Aimar, Juan Sebastian Veron, Mathias Almeyda and Ariel Ortega in the lineup.

Easy ride for Germany

China, also making their debut in the finals and expecting to bring up to 100,000 fans to South Korea, play in group C with four-times winners Brazil and also with Turkey and Costa Rica.

The two host nations both have chances of progressing into the second round.

The South Koreans are seeded in group D where they play Poland, Portugal and the United States. Japan play in group H with Belgium, Russia and Tunisia.

The top two teams from the eight groups of four go into the second round where the knockout phase of the competition starts.

Germany, three times winners, have a relatively easy looking group E with Saudi Arabia, Ireland and Cameroon while Italy will probably not complain about meeting Ecuador, Croatia and Mexico in group G.

Spain are seeded in group B to play Slovenia, Paraguay and South Africa.

The full draw resulted in the following groups:

Group A: France, Senegal, Uruguay, Denmark

Group B: Spain, Slovenia, Paraguay, South Africa

Group C: Brazil, Turkey, China, Costa Rica

Group D: Korea, Poland, U.S.A., Portugal

Group E: Germany, Saudi Arabia, Rep of Ireland, Cameroon

Group F: Argentina, Nigeria, Sweden, England

Group G: Italy, Ecuador, Croatia, Mexico

Group H: Japan, Belgium, Russia, Tunisia