Caniggia seeks place in Argentina's plans

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Caniggia seeks place in Argentina's plans

There is a sign hanging in the office of Argentina's coach, Marcelo Bielsa, which says: "The possible has already been done. The impossible is what we are doing now. But for miracles we need time." Although they may be favourites to lift the World Cup; given the economic ruins in which Argentina stands, capturing it would be seen as almost a gift from God.

Overcoming Wales in the Millennium Stadium tonight lies in the realms of the very possible and is part of a methodical build-up programme designed by Bielsa to ensure that all risk is eliminated. Friendlies with Cameroon, Belgium and Germany have been arranged to pit his side against countries which most nearly replicate the styles of Nigeria, Sweden and England. Tonight's match in Cardiff will give the Argentinians experience under a closed roof, conditions they will encounter in Sapporo against England.

That match will naturally overshadow this one and for Juan Sebastian Veron facing the man who moulded his career in Europe is something to savour, even four months in advance. "I have a lot of reasons to be grateful to Sven Goran Eriksson," the Manchester United midfielder said. "He helped me when I first came to Parma. It was a difficult transition period for me; it was a different type of football and I was adjusting to a different way of life. At Lazio he gave me the opportunity to win the Serie A title."

While his counterpart, Claudio Caniggia, makes France and his own country clear favourites, with Italy, Brazil, Spain and England in a second group of darker horses, Veron feels that England may be a more formidable threat than when he encountered them in the bare-knuckle contest in St-Etienne during the 1998 World Cup. "England are very fortunate in that they have an excellent group of young players all reaching top form at the same stage but, more importantly, they are very fortunate to have a manager who has steered the ship very well."

At 35 and quixotically recalled to the colours after four years away, Caniggia will feel this match is more important for him than anyone else in Bielsa's squad. "This is the last chance I have to impress the manager," said the man who arrived on the international scene three World Cups ago. "I am not going to waste this unexpected chance."

Having recorded their first win at the Millennium Stadium, against Belarus, Mark Hughes' side will have a near-full house as they begin the preparations for their 2004 European Championship qualifying campaign. While Ryan Giggs will again receive the greatest show of adulation, this will be Craig Bellamy's first appearance in Cardiff since establishing himself at Newcastle as one of the Premiership's most feared strikers.

Gary Speed, likely to be used as an experimental left-back, believes Bellamy might be the man to create an upset in his home city. "Maybe Argentina will be surprised by him, because they don't know him," the Newcastle midfielder said.

WALES (probable, 4-3-1-2): Jones (Southampton); Delaney (Aston Villa), Page (Sheffield Utd), Melville (Fulham), Speed (Newcastle), Davies (Tottenham), Savage (Leicester), Robinson (Wolves), Giggs (Manchester Utd), Hartson (Celtic), Bellamy (Newcastle).

ARGENTINA (probable, 3-4-3): Bonano (Barcelona); Vivas (Internazionale), Chamot (Milan), Placente (Bayer Leverkusen); Husain (River Plate), Veron (Manchester Utd), Sorin (Cruzeiro), Kily Gonzalez (Valencia); Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Caniggia (Rangers), Saviola (Barcelona).

Referee: P McKeown (Ireland).