Date: 14-06-1998
Stage: first round
Place: TOULOUSE
Running time: 105 min.
Colour: PAL
Quality: HD 1080 30fps (10)
Commentary: MULTI : japanese/italian/english
My rating: ***
Notes: Simeone,Zanetti,Veron,Batistuta,Lopez, Nakata
MATCH SUMMARY
Sunday, 14 June 1998, 14:30
Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Attendance: 33,400
Meteo: Clear, warm, 25 °C
ARGENTINA
Carlos Roa
Roberto Ayala
Nelson Vivas
Roberto Sensini
Matias Almeyda
Diego Simeone (c)
Juan Sebastian Veron
Javier Zanetti
Gabriel Batistuta
Claudio Lopez
Ariel Ortega
Coach: Daniel Passarella (ARG)
61′ ↓Claudio Lopez ↑Abel Balbo
73′ ↓Roberto Sensini ↑José Chamot
JAPAN
Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi
Yutaka Akita
Masami Ihara (c)
Eisuke Nakanishi
Akira Narahashi
Naoki Soma
Hidetoshi Nakata
Hiroshi Nanami
Motohiro Yamaguchi
Shoji Jo
Mashshi Nakayama
Coach: Takeshi Okada (JPN)
26′ Masami Ihara
67′ Eisuke Nakanishi
90+2′ Takashi Hirano
66′ ↓Mashshi Nakayama ↑Wagner Lopes
85′ ↓Naoki Soma ↑Takashi Hirano
Referee: Mario van der Ende (NED)
Goals:
28′ Gabriel Batistuta ARG
Match overview
Argentina dominated possession but struggled to break down Japan’s disciplined back-three until Batistuta struck on 28 minutes, pouncing on Veron’s through ball to fire low past Kawaguchi. Japan grew in confidence after the break, with Nakata orchestrating several counter-attacks, yet clear chances were scarce. Passarella’s side saw out the closing spell in relative comfort to begin Group H with three points.
Trivia
This fixture was Japan’s firstever match at a FIFA World Cup finals. Gabriel Batistuta scored in his third consecutive World Cup, while Diego Simeone made his 70th senior appearance for Argentina on the day.
