=== Argentina reserves spot in round of 16 with 6-0 win ===

Gelsenkirchen, Germany (My Sportsbook) - A trip to the round of 16 was secured by a dominant Argentinean squad on Friday, when the team dominantly defeated Serbia & Montenegro 6-0 at the FIFA World Cup Stadium Gelsenkirchen.

Maxi Rodriguez scored twice and Esteban Cambiasso netted a goal to give Argentina a 3-0 lead at the half. In the second half, the team picked up right where it left off, scoring three goals courtesy of Hernan Crespo, Carlos Tevez and the teenager Lionel Messi.

The victory keeps Argentina tied for first-place in Group C with the Netherlands, who defeated Cote d'Ivoire, 2-1.

The loss eliminates Serbia & Montenegro from advancing in the tournament.

Argentina got off to a quick start, finding early possession and attacking opportunities in the Serbia & Montenegro side of the field.

The team capitalized on its quick start in just the sixth minute, when Rodriguez drilled a shot to the far post to give Argentina the early advantage.

Rodriguez received a great pass from Javier Saviola from the left side of the box. Saviola's pass through to Rodriguez was timed perfectly, as the ball met the midfielder on the sprint, allowing him to send a toe-poked shot to the far post for the goal.

The goal seemed to only give the Argentinean offense more to work towards, as the front line continued to work its way around the Serbia & Montenegro defense.

In the 17th minute, Argentina coach Jose Pekerman was forced to make an early substitution, taking out Luis Gonzalez and bringing in Cambiasso. Gonzalez fell to the field after being fouled inside of the Argentina penalty box. A stretcher was brought to the field, but Gonzalez appeared able to walk on his own power to the Argentina dressing room.

Facing the one-goal deficit, Serbia & Montenegro started to settle, matching Argentina for ball control.

But Argentina managed to strike again, scoring the second goal of the match in the 31st minute off the foot of Cambiasso, the 17th minute substitute.

Marching through the defense, Crespo and Cambiasso put together a solid give-and-go series of passing that led to the goal. Cambiasso started with the ball at the top of the penalty box. The midfielder then chipped a pass to Crespo, who then quickly sent the ball back to Cambiasso as he ran to the left around a defender. Once receiving the ball, Cambiasso drilled a shot to the top of the net to give Argentina the two-goal lead.

Already in the midst of a nightmare first half, Serbia & Montenegro conceded the third goal 10 minutes later to Rodriguez, his second of the match. Saviola helped to set up the goal with a low shot from the right side that deflected off the hands of goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric. The ball rolled towards the end line on the left side of the box and was met by a sprinting Rodriguez, who sent a low shot into the back of the net to take a 3-0 lead.

The goal completed a disastrous first half of soccer for Serbia & Montenegro, which was held to only one shot at the Argentinean net by the end of 45 minutes.

In the 65th minute, Serbia & Montenegro's Mateja Kezman was issued a red card for a violent slide tackle against Javier Mascherano, leaving the team to play with 10 players.

In the 75th minute, Argentina made its final substitution, bringing in 18- year-old Lionel Messi for Rodriguez. The substitution marks Messi's first appearance of the tournament.

Three minutes later, Messi earned his first assist with a pass from the left side to Crespo, who drilled the fourth goal of the match into the back of the net.

Tevez added his first of the match with a goal in the 84th and Messi earned his first of the tournament four minutes later to put the finishing touches on a dominant Argentina victory.