It's a fair reflection of how England's chances are rated elsewhere that both managers involved in this afternoon's game are so keen to win in order to avoid facing Romania next Tuesday.

For the South Americans there is the added incentive of the group winners' match being played in St Etienne, just 10 minutes drive from their base at L'Etrat, rather than back here in the south west. That alone is probably enough to tempt Daniel Passarella into fielding his strongest team.

This means that key defender Jose Chamot, the only Argentinian currently on a booking, is likely to start but Passarella will have to select without Roberto Sensini who pulled a muscle in the win over Jamaica. He may be replaced in a more attacking formation by River Plate's Marcello Gallardo. Javier Zanetti and Hector Pineda both came through training yesterday after picking up knocks last time out.

The Croatians, meanwhile, will have Milan's Zvonimir Boban back from a calf muscle tear, while Slaven Bilic also appears to have recovered from a groin strain. Both sides know how important their strikers will be and such has been Gabriel Batistuta's form that Croatian manager Miroslav Blazevic makes Argentina favourites to win.

"Croatia are an excellent team but Argentina are formidable. However, we will do all that we can to win the game and the group."

Probable Teams

Argentina: Roa, Vivas, Ayala, Chamot, Zanetti, Almeyda, Veron, Ortega, Simeone, Batistuta, Lopez.

Croatia: Ladic, Bilic, Soldo, Stimac, Simic, Prosinecki, Boban, Asanovic, Jarni, Stanic, Suker.