HAMBURG, Germany _ Argentina's 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast was worth three points in the World Cup standings.

In self-belief, however, Saturday's win was worth much, much more.

A young team with only four returning from the embarrassing 2002 World Cup in Japan _ the two-time champions went out in the first round _ it needed a good start to steel itself against the World Cup's toughest group.

Serbia-Montenegro and the Netherlands are up next in Group C for Argentina, and only two of the four will reach the knockout stage.

"This is a very good team that works hard," Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano said. "Maybe many people don't know us _ we are new names _ but we have showed this is a tough team."

Often dubbed "Pekerman's kids," 17 of the 23-man team played for Argentina coach Jose Pekerman's clubs when they won World Youth Championship titles in 1995, '97 and 2001. "Getting through this first game was so big," Mascherano said. "We now know what we can do."

It could have been an easier victory than it was.

Roberto Ayala's header in the 14th minute went off the hands of Ivory Coast goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie, then off the post before Tizie grabbed it in the air. The Argentines thought it was in, but referee Frank De Bleeckere let play go on.

"It would been a lot easier if that had counted," said Hernan Crespo, who put Argentina ahead 1-0 in the 24th off a free kick from Juan Ramon Riquelme. Javier Saviola made it 2-0 in the 38th, and again it was Riquelme with the set-up pass.

Didier Drogba scored in the 82nd for Ivory Coast, the result of 20 minutes of pushing forward with Argentina dropping back to defend its lead.

"It was savage, we suffered lots," Crespo said. "We were nervous, so much wanting to do things well. This is the first step,"

One of four players returning for the 2002 debacle, Crespo framed the result as the fruit of several years of work and criticism. For a nation that has twice won the World Cup, only a third is good enough.

"This is a little bit what we have been working for the last four years," Crespo said. "Now we are in the homestretch. It was a relief to get this game out of the way. This got rid of a lot of nerves. Not just the young players, but this was important for all of us."

Defender and captain Juan Pablo Sorin _ like Crespo a veteran from 2002 _ cautioned against too much optimism.

"We haven't achieved anything yet," Sorin said. "All we've done is won one game. But it was key to start like this with three points."