World Cup Game Preview: Argentina, Netherlands clash in FIFA World Cup

Two distinct and distinguished schools of football meet at the World Cup when Argentina face Netherlands in their final Group C match in Frankfurt on Wednesday.

It promises to be a game of high quality although the sting has been taken out of the contest because the sides are already through to the second round with maximum points.

World Cup matches between the two countries have been rich in skill and drama, not least when a brilliant Dennis Bergkamp goal gave the Dutch a 2-1 win in the 1998 quarter-finals in Marseille and sent Daniel Passarella's Argentina packing.

Twenty years earlier, captain Passarella lifted the trophy in Buenos Aires when Argentina beat Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final, the only time the Dutch have lost to the South Americans.

The last time the sides met in Germany, in the 1974 tournament, an ill-prepared Argentina were hammered 4-0 by a Dutch side inspired by coach Rinus Michels and skipper Johan Cruyff. That match was played in Gelsenkirchen, where Argentina set a benchmark for this tournament with a 6-0 rout of Serbia & Montenegro that kept them top of the group on goal difference.

An extra bonus for winning the group and playing the earlier second-round match is the longer break before the quarter-finals if they are still in the competition.

Probable teams:

Netherlands (4-3-3): 1-Edwin van der Sar; 12-Jan Kromkamp, 13-Andre Ooijer, 2-Kew Jaliens, 15-Tim de Cler; 6-Denny Landzaat, 20-Wesley Sneijder, 8-Philip Cocu; 7-Dirk Kuijt, 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 17-Robin van Persie

Argentina (4-4-2): 1-Roberto Abbondanzieri; 21-Nicolas Burdisso, 2-Roberto Ayala, 15-Gabriel Milito, 3-Juan Pablo Sorin; 18-Maxi Rodriguez, 4-Fabricio Coloccini, 5-Esteban Cambiasso, 16-Pablo Aimar; 11-Carlos Tevez, 20-Julio Ricardo Cruz