Argentina coach Diego Maradona seems to have settled on starting three strikers - Carlos Tevez, Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain - for the team's World Cup opener against Nigeria on Sunday in Group B.

Most reporters were barred from watching Wednesday's two practice matches. Team officials said Higuain and Javier Mascherano scored in a 2-0 victory against Argentina's second side. In another match, the second-string side defeated a youth team 1-0 with Sergio Aguero scoring.

Maradona is widely expected to start the following team: Sergio Romero in goal behind defenders Gabriel Heinze, Martin Demichelis and Walter Samuel. The midfield will be Jonas Gutierrez, Angel Di Maria, Mascherano and Juan Sebastian Veron. They will be joined by the three strikers.

Heinze said it's a united Argentina camp with none of the confusion and bickering that existed during qualifying, when the mercurial Maradona used 107 players trying to find a starting 11.

"We're all really good without any problems and fired up to get on the field," said Heinze, who spoke to reporters after they were allowed 15 minutes of access at the end of training. "We've been practicing at a very good level, and you'll see it on Saturday."

Argentina is the favorite to win Group B, which also includes Greece and South Korea. Heinze cautioned against over confidence against a quick Nigerian side.

"Nigeria puts on lots of pressure, it's agressive with players who have pace," he said. "We know many of them from playing them in European clubs."

The two-time champions overwhelmed Canada 5-0 in their last friendly, a sendoff on May 24 in Buenos Aires. After that victory, Maradona promised to run naked around the famed Obelisk in downtown Buenos Aires if Argentina wins its third World Cup title.

SOURCE:ASSOCIATED PRESS