Sweden celebrate Svensson's goal (Allsport)

By PA Sport Staff

Sweden joint-coach Lars Lagerback praised his side's determined defensive display as they held on for a 1-1 draw against Argentina to book their place in the second round.

The Swedes went ahead through Anders Svensson in the 59th minute but endured a nervous time after that as Argentina tried to grab the win that would have prevented their early exit.

Although Hernan Crespo fired home the rebound two minutes from time after Magnus Hedman had saved Ariel Ortega's spot-kick, the Swedes did enough for a last-16 berth.

"I think it was a little bit cautious for both teams at beginning," said Lagerback.

"We started the second half pretty good but, as time went on, Argentina dominated more and more so we had to defend for a big part of the game but we defended very well.

"I cannot say the final few minutes were enjoyable when you are sitting on the bench.

"You just hope the players can stand up and time went on without them scoring."

Lagerback also revealed their goal, a David Beckham-style free-kick from Southampton's Svensson, was a case of practice made perfect.

"Henrik Larsson and Anders Svensson and some other guys practice a lot even when we have finished training," he said.

"They love to do that for 10 to 15 minutes so they really work hard on it."

The Swedes, as group winners, will now face Senegal in the next round in Oita on Sunday.

"It is fantastic and it is important because we will have an extra day before next match and we will really need that after this game," he added.

Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, who failed to shake off a hip injury to play in the match, now faces a race to be fit for the Senegal tie in just four days.

``I'm still limping but after a rest I am hoping I can be there,'' he said.

``It will be a tough game against the Senegalese but we have a lot of self-confidence now.''

Juan Sebastian Veron issued a heartfelt apology to the people of Argentina following his side's failure to return home with the World Cup.

Pre-tournament favourites Argentina sensationally join reigning champions France on an early plane home from the Far East after the so-called 'Group of Death' claimed one of the best teams in the world.

Argentina should now be looking forward to taking their place in the second round, but their failure to beat eventual group winners Sweden at the Miyagi Stadium now looks certain to mean the end of coach Marcelo Bielsa's reign.

The Argentinians totally dominated the game, enjoying a phenomenal 66% of possession, while their incisive passing and movement ensured they carved out numerous chances, but their poor finishing - in all three matches - proved to be their downfall.

Manchester United midfielder Veron described hearing the final whistle as "the worst moment of my career".

"I am absolutely devastated," added Veron, who suffered further ignominy as he was left on the bench at the start of the match and was not introduced until after Sweden had taken the lead.

"Both myself and the team were hoping to give the World Cup as a present to the people of Argentina, but that is not now possible.

"Although we knew we were in a hard group, as a team, we all believed we could win the World Cup because we were all working so hard to achieve such a goal.

"But our dreams have now been trashed following this result, and so I would just like to apologise to the Argentinian people for our failure to qualify, and for our failure to bring the World Cup home.

"Although I am hurt, I am also calm. I can console myself with the fact we gave 100% in this game, but that we were just unlucky. This was a game we deserved to win."

It is the first time Argentina have failed to qualify for the second stage in the last eight World Cups in which they have participated, a remarkable record stretching back to 1962.

Their stunning form in qualifying from the notoriously difficult South American group, with just one defeat in 18 matches and scoring 43 goals en route, led to them rightly assuming the mantle of favourites.

But they failed to live up to such an exalted status, narrowly edging past Nigeria before suffering a defeat to England, and then failing to turn their superiority over the Swedes into goals.

Despite barely venturing into the Argentinian half during the first period, Sweden took the lead in the 59th minute when Southampton's Anders Svensson exquisitely curled home a 27-yard free-kick beyond Pablo Cavallero.

Despite Argentina's creativity, they had to rely on a dubious penalty to haul them level four minutes from time, but even then it was Hernan Crespo on the rebound after Coventry's Magnus Hedman had saved Ariel Ortega's spot-kick.

Insult was added to deep wounds with Rangers star Claudio Caniggia sent off on the stroke of half-time for calling United Arab Emirates referee Ali Bujsaim "a son of a bitch".

All in all, it has been a tournament to forget for Bielsa, who will now face the music upon his return to Argentina and with no chance his contract will be renewed at the end of the month.

"This is an occasion of great sadness and disappointment for me, and I am extremely disillusioned after what has happened to us," lamented Bielsa.

"I don't know what will happen when my contract ends, but then it is not up to me to decide. If I have to respond to any proposals, then I will do so at the right time. But I cannot say at this moment how things will go."

Bielsa believes his players were burdened by the favourites tag, one they found it difficult to come to terms with, and he added: "There was a lot of pressure on me and the team.

"Right now, it is too easy to say that we are out simply because of bad luck, but it does play a part in our downfall."

Bielsa's inept tactics must also come into play, in particular replacing Gabriel Batistuta with Crespo just seconds before Svensson fired Sweden into the lead.

With Bielsa knowing his side had to win the game, Crespo alongside Batistuta and Kily Gonzalez in a three-pronged attack may have reaped the rewards they needed.

Batistuta, in what could well be his last international appearance for Argentina, was certainly bitter about the situation as he said: "I would have liked to have stayed on and played alongside Crespo.

"But it was the coach's decision - and you have to accept decisions like that."

He then added: "That's the end of a four-year cycle for this national team.

"It is very sad for everyone, but we had no luck. We had 25 chances and they scored with just one from a free-kick."

Whether the Argentinian fans have seen the last of Batistuta in a blue and white striped shirt remains to be seen as he has cast doubt over his international future.

"I don't want to make a decision or comment on something like that in the heat of the moment," he concluded."