Argentina just too talented

GROUP F: The blood feud continues. From David Beckham in St Etienne, back through the hand of God and the depths of tinpot Thatcherism, to Sir Alf Ramsey's "animals" comment about Rattin at Wembley in 1966, it's been nothing but badness between these two.

In preparation, the trembling merchants of Sapporro have been closing their premises and crossing their fingers, and buses of riot police have been pouring in and two football teams have been preparing themselves for anything.

England and Argentina opened their World Cup campaigns in such radically different fashion that it's tempting to argue that only history gives today's game any flavour. England descended from mere competence to terminal limpness against Sweden and were lucky to drag themselves out of that game with a draw. Argentina, meanwhile, played within themselves while dispatching Nigeria and looked for all the world like a side pacing themselves for the long haul.

The game has a once-off feel to it which removes it from the context of the tournament around it. It will come down to a battle of brains between two managers. Argentina need to play without panic or fear. England need to perform above themselves.

The suspicion lingers that this competition will find Sven-Goran Eriksson out. Leave aside for a moment the tabloid fascination with the man's peccadilloes, and think critically about the populist measure in making the callow if likeable Beckham captain, the mystery of how Danny Mills became an international full back and the absence of Steve McManaman from this tournament; think of the primitive hoofing which England reverted to against Sweden and remember the general poverty of the performance against Greece, a game that got them here by virtue of one grace note.

Marcelo Bielsa is a different kettle of tuna, however. He resisted public demands that "the little rabbit", Barcelona's Javier Saviola, be included, and opted instead for experience in a squad which was top-heavy with attacking talent in the first place.

He has conceived and evolved a style of play loosely comparable to the Dutch total football of the '70s. Argentina play 3-3-1-3, giving Juan Veron a free role behind the forwards. The contrast between Veron's display against Nigeria and most of what he produced for Manchester United last season will have given Alex Ferguson even more pause for thought this summer.

Today Argentina are weakened slightly by injury. Juan Pablo Sorin, sublime and ubiquitous in the opening game, misses out due to a calf strain, and Roberto Ayala continues to suffer with a thigh injury. The replacements are top drawer, however.

Kily Gonzalez of Valencia steps in for Sorin, while Bayer Leverkeusen's Diego Placente fills Ayala's boots.

For the English, the table isn't exactly groaning with good things and Eriksson moves things around in the hope of creating the illusion of riches. Nicky Butt is expected to come in to strengthen a weak midfield, a move which in turn sees the muscular Emile Heskey move further forward to assist Michael Owen in a more conventional front two arrangement.

Ironically, the moves involve the dropping of Darius Vassell, one of the few comparative successes against Sweden. Paul Scholes, on the back of an insipid season with Manchester United, is required to assist Owen Hargreaves in midfield. Hargreaves is a tidy player upon whom the rank of general has been conferred. Asking him to chase down the likes of Veron, Simeone and Zanetti may provide confirmation that he is a lieutenant, not a leader.

Then there is the Beckham problem. He has been assuring all who will listen in the past couple of days that he is ready and able for a full 90 minutes today. If true, this would be the first miracle of Posh. By his admission, his legs and lungs failed him suddenly against Sweden and, exhausted, he could not proceed. After an injury lay-off, that is understandable.

He will be looking for adrenalin and the shot at redemption to see him through tonight. Might not be enough.

All in all, Argentina look to have too much for England. Gabriel Batistuta's finishing didn't match his general play against Nigeria, but the options beyond that are manifold. England rely on the lightning flashes of Owen, which against Sweden just never came. St Etienne was heartbreaking. Sapporo could be soul destroying.

Argentina v England

Sapporo, 12.30p.m.

BBC 1, Network 2