"I was very calm," Abbondanzieri told an Argentine TV station.

The keeper's point-blank save from Abdul Kader Keita early in the second half delayed the Ivory Coast's fightback and he also dealt well with aerial balls.

The Ivorians could not rely to the same extent on their keeper Jean Jacques Tizie, who was weak on high balls, allowing Crespo to poach the first goal and also watching another Riquelme free kick sail over the defence.