Argentina: R.Abbondanzieri, N.Burdisso, R.Ayala, G.Heinze, M.Rodriguez, J.Mascherano, E.Cambasso, J.Sorin, J.Riquelme (P.Aimar 90), J.Saviola (L.Gonzalez 76), H.Crespo (R.Palacio 64).

Ivory Coast: J.Tizie, E.Eboue, K.Toure, A.Meite, A.Boka, A.Keita (A.Kone 77), Y.Toure, D.Zokora, K.Akale (B.Kone 62), B.Kalou (A.Dindane 56), D.Drogba.

The group of death got under way and the quality of the opening game justified the tag. This was by far the highest quality, most competitive game of the tournament so far and produced a vital win for Argentina who are genuine contenders for the trophy on this evidence.

They will be wary that they won their opening game four years ago but could not qualify from that tough group but they look better equipped all round this time.

It was actually Ivory Coast who started the brighter in a game that was extremely fast and open from the word go. The left wing pair of Boka and Akale looked particularly keen to bomb forward.

Akale provided a centre which Drogba headed over the bar under pressure and then the roles were reversed as Drogba turned provider but Akale's shot from outside the box was well wide of the mark.

There was also a hint of danger when a Zokora drive was blocked and almost rebounded to Drogba but the Argentinian defence was alert and the ball was smuggled behind for a corner.

Then, in Argentina's first sustained spell of pressure, there was the first really contentious issue of the tournament so far.

The playmaker Riquelme produced his first telling pass of the evening to release Rodriguez and Kolo Toure did well to beat Crespo to the centre at the near post. From the corner Ayala was left unmarked and powered a header straight at Tizie. The Ivorian keeper fumbled the effort and grabbed it as it rebounded from the post.

The Argentinians claimed a goal and it certainly looked mighty suspicious but the Africans got away with it.

Zokora drove forward to intercept and charge into the box but his cut back was cleared well by the impressive Ayala. When the Argentinians then made a quick break from the resulting corner Kolo Toure did a similar mopping up job for his side.

It had been a breathless start and the game was all about pace and movement. There was nothing cagey about this clash.

The deadlock was broken when Meita conceded a needless free kick out wide on the Argentinian right. Riquelme sent in a truly horrible ball to defend and although Drogba got in the way of it in front of his own goal the ball just sat there waiting for the inevitable arrival of Crespo who slotted home from point blank range.

The goal knocked the Ivorians for a spell and a poor clearance by Eboue gave Saviola a shooting chance but the striker didn't catch it properly and the opportunity went begging.

The quick interchanges between Saviola, Crespo and Riquelme were threatening to swamp the Ivory Coast but they managed to resist and respond. Both Drogba and Kalou were only inches away from getting on the end of a fine swinging free kick from deep and then the Chelsea powerhouse tore at the heart of the Argentine defence before bursting through onto Kalou's return pass.

Just as he was pulling the trigger Ayala pulled off another crucial block.

Kolo Toure's brother was an intriguing figure in the centre of midfield. A big rangy chap he was generally innocuous but would suddenly spring into dramatic action. He made one superb break down the left wing before cutting back a lovely ball into Kalou on the edge of the box. The sidefooted finish was poorly executed, however, and completely unworthy of the approach play.

Then came the best chance of an equaliser. Akale made another forceful surge down the left and centred deep to the back post. Drogba was up to easily win the header and knocked the ball into the path of the arriving Keita. He lunged into his header but could not direct it away from Abbondanzieri, the ball wedging somewhat fortuitously between the keepers' legs.

The importance of this miss/save was emphasised two minutes later when Argentina went further ahead. Riquelme, who had again enhanced his reputation, sent in a snaking pass that found Saviola running beyond the defence and he needed only to slip the ball first time past the exposed Tizie.

There was a hint of offside about this goal but, given the earlier incident with the goalline call, it was hard to quibble.

The Ivory Coast could count themselves extremely unlucky to be going in two goals down after contributing fully to a superb half of football but that only highlighted the excellence of the Argentinians.

Half Time: Argentina 2 Ivory Coast 0

The second half began with a wonderful move by Argentina which ended with Saviola nutmegging Kolo Toure and feeding Rodriguez who shot wildly at the near post.

After Gabriel Heinze had satisfied his inherent need to get booked by fouling Drogba Riquelme was given another chance to deliver a free kick from a dangerous area by a silly Ivory Coast offence.

This time nobody could get on the end of the ball which passed only a foot wide of the far post.

For twenty minutes after half time Argentina exerted a control over the game that neither side could manage at any other time. The manner in which they kept possession, fed their quality players and continued to pose a threat despite being in front was in stark contrast to England's second half earlier in the day.

When the substitutions started getting made, however, the Argies took a leaf straight out of Eriksson's book by withdrawing their three goal threats. This helped Ivory Coast come back into the picture.

Boka drove forward again from left back to send in a shot that was deflected behind for a corner and then Drogba showed fantastic strength to hold off challengers inside the box but his drive on the turn was blocked by a defender.

The danger wasn't over but when the ball was played into B.Kone he drove well over the bar from a promising position.

The younger Toure came forward to send in a drive and when that too was deflected the ball crossed the path of Drogba. He thrust out his foot instinctively but could only send the ball wide.

The Chelsea forward was looking a real handful as he carried the fight to the Argentinians and won a free kick after lovely footwork took him beyond Sorin who promptly tripped him from behind. Unfortunately Drogba then put a woeful free kick straight into the wall.

Argentina now looked satisfied with what they had but even with less than 15 minutes to go it was impossible to feel the game was safe.

Dindane caught a defender in possession and drove for the box but Heinze robbed him as he tried to cut inside into the area. B.Kone had the next chance but smashed a loose ball wide.

With ten minutes left the Africans got the goal their performance had undoubtedly merited. A fine ball inside Sorin sent B.Kone scampering to the goalline and although Drogba could only get a glancing head on the centre the ball was quickly returned and he was on hand to spin and finish in fine style with a low drive.

Almost immediately a mistake by Tizie looked to have cost his side any hope. He made a mess of gathering a drive by Riquelme and Rodriguez lobbed the rebound beyond him and put the ball into the net. The linesman's flag spared the keepers' blushes.

Hard as they tried, however, Ivory Coast could not summon up the late charge they needed. Dindane made it to the byeline but put too much on his centre and Abbondanzieri made a superb claim ahead of Drogba from a left wing centre.

Drogba then blotted his copybook by throwing the ball at the keeper which brought a booking. It was a shame after a fine performance but you could understand his frustration.

The last few minutes passed by uneventfully as the Argentinians wound the clock down.

Overall, however, this had been an excellent game and both sides take full credit for their contributions.

It is Argentina who the pretenders will be really wary of though.

Full Time: Argentina 2 Ivory Coast 1

Argentina: R.Abbondanzieri 8, N.Burdisso 6, R.Ayala 8, G.Heinze 7, M.Rodriguez 6, J.Mascherano 7, E.Cambiasso 6, J.Sorin 7, J.Riquelme 9, J.Saviola 8 (L.Gonzalez 6), H.Crespo 7 (R.Palacio 5).

Ivory Coast: J.Tizie 5, E.Eboue 5, K.Toure 8, A.Meita 5, A.Boka 7, A.Keita 5 (A.Kone 6), Y.Toure 7, D.Zokora 6, K.Akale 7 (B.Kone 7), B.Kalou 6 (A.Dindane 6), D.Drogba 9.

Referee: F.De Bleeckere (Belgium) 6
Not the hardest of games to referee. Didn't do anything stupid and if the ball did cross the line from Ayala's header then it was the linesmans' mistake anyway.

Good:
Juan Roman Riquelme. This guy could have a big say in this tournament, his passing is crisp, imaginative and always looking to hurt the opposition.
Didier Drogba was a real handful up front, virtually on his own. Kept the Argentinian defence on its' toes all night.
The game itself, it was a cracker.

Bad:
Other than the fact that Argentina look real contenders for this tournament there was little to complain about here.

Ugly:
Drogba does sweat a lot and the Ivory Coast shirts don't stand up to perspiration very well.
The truly disturbing images were obviously those of Diego Maradona getting a snog at half time by someone who looked uncomfortably like Liza Minelli in an Argentina shirt. I was worried Michael Jackson might appear to make it a whole row of freaks.