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JAMAICA know they must learn and learn quickly from their opening World Cup match defeat at the hands of Croatia. The bad news is that Argentina's Gabriel Batistuta, who has been nursing a bruised foot since his country's narrow victory over Japan, says his team-mates will show Jamaica no mercy today in Toulouse.
Batistuta said: "Things are going to get serious against Jamaica. We need to remember the goal we scored against Japan. It was our first in this World Cup and it's always good for team morale to start off such a competition with a victory, especially against a line-up which should have been less difficult to beat. It's going to take the pressure off us. However, we need to follow things up much better because we are still aiming to finish first.
"We need to convince ourselves that we're going to be the champions and live up to the reputation of favourites. As for me, I'm the goalscorer and I intend to be exactly that for every match. I trained on Monday and Tuesday without problems. My foot is getting better. The injury isn't bothering me anymore.
Playmaker Roberto Sensini may play with a heavily strapped wrist: "I've still got a bandage on my wrist but the doctor says I can play. There's a lot of pressure on me as I've been made to feel that I've vital to the line-up. Without Maradona, I've got even more responsibilities. Diego Simeone agrees: "The first match is always difficult to get through. Japan are weaker than Jamaica so we need to be outstanding. We know what that we're capable of but we need to respect our opponents. I think that what the Argentinians have lost in brilliance, they have made up for in toughness. We need to be quicker and fiercer against Jamaica.
Jamaican morale is reported to be very low following the defeat against Croatia but there was no criticism, no harsh words from Brazilian coach, Simoes, towards his team. He said: ''Jamaica never lose. Jamaica are always the winners because we learn, so that's very good. Argentina are potential title winners. They didn't have a brilliant game against Japan, but Japan played well and it was only the Argentinians' first match. Argentina have some great players, like Batistuta, who are capable of turning a game on its head, but that won't worry us.''
Jamaica's Derby midfielder Darryl Powell, a substitute against Croatia, believes his team will have learned a few lessons from their opening defeat. ''We have thought about the result and analysed where we went wrong, he says. But we still have two matches to go. Argentina will be difficult, but Japan are surely beatable. It's still possible to lose your first match, but then end up qualifying.
Football365's man in the camp tells us It's quite sad really. The players are really down after the Croatia game and the showing of the TV documentary that tried to highlight a split in the camp between the Jamaicans and the English-based players. To look at them at the moment you wouldn't bet against them conceding a hatful against Argentina.
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HEAD-TO-HEAD
Ortaga v Earle
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Ariel Ortega may take a back seat to Batistuta, but he was Argentina's top scorer in qualifying and looked sharp against Japan. Robbie Earle made history scoring against Croatia, but our man in the Jamaican camp tells us that morale is so low that the Jamaicans could be in big trouble. Robbie may find lack of service a problem.
| Ortega | Earle
| | Minutes On Pitch | 90 | 72
| | Goal Attempts | |
| | Goals | 0 | 1
| | Shots On Target | 0 | 0
| | Shots Off Target | 2 | 1
| | Blocked Shots | 1 | 1
| | Passing | |
| | Goal Assists | 0 | 0
| | Total Passes | 38 | 27
| | Pass Completion % | 84% | 81%
| | Crossing | |
| | Total Crosses | 2 | 2
| | Cross Completion % | 50% | 0%
| | Dribbling | |
| | Dribbles & Runs | 11 | 0
| | Dribble Completion % | 64% | 0%
| | Defending | |
| | Tackles Made | 4 | 3
| | Tackles Won % | 50% | 100%
| | Blocks | 1 | 0
| | Clearances | 0 | 4
| | Interceptions | 0 | 2
| | Discipline | |
| | Fouls Won | 13 | 0
| | Fouls Committed | 3 | 0
| | Offside | 1 | 1
| | Yellow Cards | 0 | 0
| | Red Cards | 0 | 0
| | Carling Opta Points Score | 945 | 775 |
Argentina v Jamaica: Trivia
If Gabriel Batistuta scores a hat-trick today, he'll be the first player to achieve the feat in two separate World Cup tournaments. He scored 3 goals against Greece in 1994.
Jamaica reached the finals despite losing two and winning only three of their last ten qualifiers.
Robbie Earle's goal against Croatia was his first in international football, scored at the age of 33.
Manchester United have cause to remember Juan Sebastian Veron's father, Juan senior: at Old Trafford in 1968, he scored the goal that won the World Club Cup for Estudiantes at United's expense.
Daniel Passarella is trying to become the third man to win the world Cup as a player and coach. The others were Mario Zagallo (who's Brazil's coach again this time) and Franz Beckenbauer. Germany's manager Berti Vogts is also trying to do the player-coach double.
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News 4 
