Poll position

Argentina edges France in World Cup survey

LONDON (Reuters) -- Argentina has topped a Reuters poll as favorite to win the soccer World Cup final on June 30, edging defending champion France.

In a Reuters survey published last December, a clear majority of sports journalists around the world backed Argentina to win the Cup with only a few supporting France.

But in the latest poll taken April 25 to May 3, 14 out of 35 sports editors and journalists said Argentina would reclaim the world title this year while 12 said France would successfully defend its crown.

Four said Italy would be winner, two said Brazil, two backed England and one opted for Portugal.

"Argentina... are still the favorites. They are full of star caliber players," said Juhani Heikkila at the Finnish News Agency (STT).

The 32-team finals, in Japan and South Korea, kick off on May 31.

Argentina defeated old rival Germany 1-0 in a warm-up game last month after only managing draws -- 1-1 with Wales and 2-2 with Cameroon -- in its previous two outings of the year.

Sports editors said Argentina would be tough to beat with the likes of Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo in the squad.

Still, others said France, who enjoyed a stunning 3-0 victory against Brazil in the World Cup final four years ago, were currently looking the better side.

Donald Walker at The Scotsman voted for Argentina in the last Reuters poll but now favors France. "I have changed my mind simply because France have looked more impressive than Argentina in warm-up games," he said.

France, grouped with Senegal, Uruguay and Denmark in group A of the tournament, had a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Romania in a warm-up friendly in February and drew 0-0 with Russia last month. However, it crushed Scotland 5-0 in March.

"(France) are in great shape... and Argentina are an extremely balanced side," said Andreas Jaros at Sportmagazin in Austria. "But right now I think France have the edge."

Toughest group

Argentina, world champion in 1978 and 1986, is in the toughest group with Nigeria, Sweden and arch-rival England, the 1966 world champion.

Argentina knocked England out of the 1998 World Cup after David Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone.

Beckham was vilified by the British press afterwards but became a national hero when he secured England's place in this year's World Cup by scoring a superb free-kick against Greece.

He suffered a broken bone in his foot at the beginning of April although he is expected to be fit for the finals.

Howard Donaldson at The Mercury in South Africa backed England to win the World Cup in both Reuters polls. "I still think they've got a very good chance," he said.

"I just think (Sven-Goran) Eriksson... functions well under pressure which previous England managers like (Glenn) Hoddle and (Kevin) Keegan haven't done."

Others gave their vote to Italy who were World Cup winners in 1934, 1938 and 1982.

"Last December I picked Argentina. But now it looks as if Italy have found their pace under coach Giovanni Trapattoni and their win over England has shown that they are still strong contenders," said Anthony Costantino at l-orizzont in Malta.

Italy beat England 2-1 in March with Vincenzo Montella scoring both goals.

Jeremy Walker at Asahi Shimbun News Service in Tokyo said Portugal, grouped with South Korea, Poland and the United States in the opening round, would lift soccer's greatest prize.

"Portugal have, in the likes of Luis Figo and Rui Costa, the players to control the flow of the game, and with the flair and skill to find a goal when needed," he said.

But Roger Crutchley at the Bangkok Post said four times winner Brazil would be champion. "For probably the first time in recent history, Brazil are not among the hot favorites and this may take a lot of pressure off them," he said. "They should improve game by game as the tournament goes on."

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