Running in a pack — Surviving Group C will be challenge

If you're looking for the toughest group in the World Cup, look no further than Group C.

Most groups have one title contender. This division has two — Argentina and the Netherlands — and their final group match on June 21 in Frankfurt may be the most anticipated of the first round.

Also in the group is Serbia-Montenegro, which finished ahead of Spain in European qualifying. Then there's the Ivory Coast, making its debut in the World Cup after qualifying at the expense of Cameroon, arguably Africa's strongest team.

Two-time champion Argentina has the support of at least one expert, Lothar Matthaeus, the captain of West Germany's 1990 World Cup champions.

"I think Brazil has defensive problems to sort out, and my tip to win the World Cup is Argentina," Matthaeus said.

Argentina is deep and talented everywhere.

If he recovers quickly from a right thigh injury, FC Barcelona's 18-year-old midfielder Lionel Messi — often compared to Diego Maradona — is sure to be a star. He will line up with other attacking talents such as Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez, Javier Saviola and Juan Roman Riquelme.

Argentina's defense has been hurt by injuries, but if healthy is led by Juan Pablo Sorin, Roberto Ayala, Walter Samuel, Javier Zanetti and Gabriel Heinze.

"We have a few problems, but we'll overcome them," Ayala said. "I think we're going to play very well."

The South Americans have something to prove. They were ignominiously ousted from the group stage in the 2002 World Cup and took a painful 4-1 loss against Brazil in last year's Confederations Cup final.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman is also under pressure to pick 17-year-old Sergio "Kun" Aguero, a compact, low-slung forward being compared to Romario, the star of Brazil's 1994 World Cup winner.

Messi wants Aguero on the team. The two played together last year when Argentina won the World Youth Championship.

"Sergio is a great player," Messi said. "He's powerful, he can shake off opponents, he's quick, strong, scores goals and is a team player. With him alongside me I feel ready for anything."

The Dutch team is always an enigma, saddled with the tag of the best nation never to win the World Cup.