Argentina beat Ivory Coast 2-1 and then handed out an impressive 6-0 drubbing to Serbia and Montenegro.

The Dutch won by a solitary goal against the Serbs and held out against the spirited West Africans for a 2-1 victory.

The winner of the group will play the runners-up of Group D, with the second-placed team playing the winner of that group.

With Iran having lost their first two games in Group D, Portugal will be one of the opponents awaiting the South Americans and Dutch, along with either Angola or Mexico.

The edge might have been taken off Tuesday's match, but Argentine midfielder Maxi Rodriguez said he expected a ding-dong battle against Marco van Basten's men.

"Even though we're both through, it will be an end-to-end match, though perhaps not as physical as it might have been had one of us needed to get something out of the game to qualify," Rodriguez said.

"One thing's for sure though, we'll be going all out for the win to finish top."

The Atletico player, who has scored twice in the campaign so far, added that the Dutch team possessed some very threatening youngsters.

"They're very competitive and have some big names. We know the likes of Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie and Giovanni van Bronckhorst, but there's more to Holland than them.

"They've got some good young players too and we'll need to be on our guard against them for sure."

Van Basten will be hoping the star turns in the two previous group games by wingers Robben and van Persie will be repeated against the mean-spirited Argentine defence.

Robben led the Serbs a merry dance in the Netherlands' 1-0 win, scoring the only goal, and van Persie also scored after tormenting the Ivory Coast defence during the first-half.

Out-of-favour Manchester United striker van Nistelrooy agreed that the game had not been completely discredited with both sides having qualified for the last 16.

"There's still something to play for with being number one in the group and that can be an advantage," he said.

"Maybe players will be rested or left out if they have yellow cards, but we'll have to wait and see that the team will do in that game.

"We have to show we deserve to go all the way at this tournament."

Teams

Netherlands (4-3-3):
1-Edwin van der Sar; 12-Jan Kromkamp, 13-Andre Ooijer, 2-Kew Jaliens, 15-Tim de Cler; 6-Denny Landzaat, 20-Wesley Sneijder, 8-Philip Cocu; 7-Dirk Kuijt, 9-Ruud van Nistelrooy, 17-Robin van Persie

Argentina (4-4-2):
1-Roberto Abbondanzieri; 21-Nicolas Burdisso, 2-Roberto Ayala, 15-Gabriel Milito, 3-Juan Pablo Sorin; 18-Maxi Rodriguez, 4-Fabricio Coloccini, 5-Esteban Cambiasso, 16-Pablo Aimar; 11-Carlos Tevez, 20-Julio Ricardo Cruz