Holland 0 Argentina 0: Argentina and Holland played out a dour final game in Group C that ended in a 0-0 draw and ensure the sides face Mexico and Portugal respectively, in the second round of the World Cup finals.
Both finished with seven points with Argentina top thanks to a superior goal difference after their 6-0 thrashing of Serbia & Montenegro.
Argentina left out strikers Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola who were both carrying yellow cards, and Netherlands made five changes, also protecting players from potential second bookings which would have meant suspensions for the second round.
A reasonable quality first-half gave way to a training ground second.
Argentina were the better side and came nearest to scoring, albeit thanks to a Dutchman as Khalid Boulahrouz turned a free-kick from the excellent Juan Roman Riquelme onto his own post.
Van der Sar needed to produce a full length save to deny Tevez before Riquelme made his exit, a move which allowed Pablo Aimar the final 10 minutes.
Van der Vaart curled a free-kick just wide, then Van Basten made his final change, replacing Sneijder with Hedwiges Maduro.
Holland enjoyed their most sustained spell of pressure in the final minutes but it failed to bring tangible reward, so now Ruud van Nistelrooy must come face-to-face with Cristiano Ronaldo - the man with whom his fall-out is supposed to have triggered the row with Sir Alex Ferguson - in Nuremberg on Sunday.
