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IBARAKI, Japan (AP) -- Gabriel Batistuta, who has more World Cup goals than any other player at this year's finals, cemented his position in Argentina's starting lineup with a fantastic header Sunday against Nigeria. "Batigol," chosen over teammate Hernan Crespo to start in the 1-0 win, scored his 10th World Cup goal from a Juan Sebastian Veron corner in the 63rd minute, beating Nigeria goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu to the ball. It was the AS Roma striker's 56th goal in 76 appearances for Argentina. "I won't play any more World Cups and I've now been lucky enough to score in the opening match of all three," said Batistuta, who immediately stole all of the attention from Crespo after leaving the dressing room. Luck may not be the reason Batistuta has proven so prolific at the world's most popular sporting event. Regardless, there is still another record in his sights -- Gerd Mueller's 14 World Cup goals. "To beat that record, Argentina has to keep winning and get to the final," Batistuta said. "If we're scoring goals, I'm the one that will most likely get the chances. But if Argentina doesn't win, I can't beat the record. We'll see." He will get his chance to add to his tally on Friday when Argentina plays England in Sapporo. The team's final first-round match is against Sweden on June 12 in Miyagi. The 33-year-old, who also played in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, almost didn't make the starting lineup Sunday. Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa waited until Saturday to announce that the veteran would start over 26-year-old Crespo. The decision paid off. Besides the game-winning strike, Batistuta had several scoring chances. The best came in the 47th minute when Veron sent a corner through the goal box and onto the sliding foot of Batistuta. He tipped it wide. Four minutes later, Batistuta blasted a free kick from just outside the area that went over the bar. He had another free kick opportunity in the 79th, but Shorunmu made a great save to deny Batistuta a second goal. In the first half, the former Fiorentina star headed another cross just wide and sent a rocket from the open field just over Shorunmu's bar. Crespo replaced Batistuta in the 82nd minute, and two minutes later, he headed wide. In the 85th, the Lazio forward ran down and nearly chipped past Shorunmu, but the ball sailed over.
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