Argentina and Netherlands, already qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup, put out weakened teams and cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
Updated at 2.21 am, Thursday
FRANKFURT: Argentina and Netherlands, already qualified for the knockout stage of the World Cup, put out weakened teams and cancelled each other out in a 0-0 draw on Wednesday.
The result meant both finished Group C on seven points with Argentina finishing top thanks to a superior goal difference after their 6-0 thrashing of Serbia & Montenegro.
Argentina go on to play Mexico in a second round fixture in Leipzig on Saturday.
Netherlands face Portugal in Nuremberg the following day.
Argentina left out strikers Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola who were carrying yellow cards, and Netherlands made five changes, also protecting players from potential second bookings which would have meant suspensions for the second round.
An error by right back Nicolas Burdisso allowed winger Dirk Kuijt to force a leaping save from keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri.
Minutes later, Argentina strung together a long passing movement which ended with Carlos Tevez shooting narrowly wide of Edwin van der Sar''s right-hand post.
The keeper, equalling the Dutch caps record of 112 held by Frank de Boer, had to act sharply to turn over Juan Roman Riquelme''s inswinging corner.
Tevez then chased a low Riquelme free kick to the near post, forcing a quick intervention from defender Khalid Boulahrouz whose attempted clearance came back off the post.
With Argentina being forced back in the latter stages of the first half, Maxi Rodriguez had a shot from outside the box that shaved the diving Van der Sar's right-hand post.
Argentine teenager Lionel Messi, making his first start in the finals, was restricted by close Dutch marking but got in a shot in first-half stoppage time that went straight to Van der Sar.
Tevez Carlos (Argentina) was Man of the Match.
Teams
Netherlands
Edwin van der Sar, Kew Jaliens, Khalid Boulahrouz, Andre Ooijer, Tim de Cler, Wesley Sneijder, Rafaelvan der Vaart, Philip Cocu, Dirk Kuijt, Ruud vanNistelrooy, Robin van Persie
Coach: Marco Van Basten
Argentina
Roberto Abbondanzieri, Nicolas Burdisso, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Milito, Leandro Cufre, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Mascherano, Juan Roman Riquelme, MaxiRodriguez, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez
Coach: Jose Pekerman
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo (Spain)
Linesmen: Victoriano Giraldez Carrasco (Spain), Pedro Medina Hernandez (Spain)
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