Argentina dazzle, Dutch edge through

GELSENKIRCHEN, June 17 (Reuters) - Argentina put on the best display of attacking soccer at the World Cup so far, demolishing Serbia & Montenegro 6-0 on Friday with a sublime performance that had the stamp of potential champions.

Also on Friday, the Netherlands withstood a late onslaught for a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, which ensures that both the Argentines and the Dutch will qualify from Group C for the knockout stage of the world's most-watched sporting event.

Netherlands will play Argentina on Wednesday to determine who wins the group. Hosts Germany, England and Ecuador have also already secured spots in the next round with a game to spare.

In Friday's other game, tournament debutants Angola staged an upset by holding Mexico to a goalless draw in Group D for their first point despite being down to 10 men late in the game.

Argentina got off to an ideal start in their game in Gelsenkirchen when midfielder Maxi Rodriguez put them ahead after six minutes, rifling home from inside the penalty area after a nimble run by diminutive striker Javier Saviola.

Substitute Esteban Cambiasso netted 25 minutes later, latching on to a back heel from Hernan Crespo to round off a brilliant flowing move involving 24 passes that is sure to be replayed on television for years to come.

Rodriguez notched his second four minutes before halftime, and Crespo, Carlos Tevez and 18-year-old prodigy Lionel Messi all found the back of the Serbian net in the second half.

"It is an honour to play with so many great players," Tevez said. "When the team pulls together like that you get results." Underscoring the quality that runs right through the Argentina side, playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, who failed to score a goal but pulled all the strings in midfield, was named FIFA's Man of the Match.

Cheered on by former great Diego Maradona, who captained Argentina to World Cup success, coach Jose Pekerman's present-day team showed the class needed to snare a third world title after wins in 1978 and 1986.

Serbia & Montenegro, who like the Ivorians will leave the tournament after the first round, hailed their conquerors.

"I can only say congratulations," said coach Ilija Petkovic, describing the result as one of the worst in their football history. "Future generations will speak about this result."

The Dutch, another of the pre-tournament favourites, were far less convincing in their win over Ivory Coast in Stuttgart.

Robin van Persie gave them the lead with an unstoppable free kick and Ruud van Nistelrooy added a second after receiving a neat reverse pass from winger Arjen Robben.

But the West African side struck back before halftime through Bakary Kone, who raced diagonally towards goal before clipping a rising shot past Edwin Van der Sar. Ivory Coast applied heavy pressure in the closing minutes of the match but were unable to get past the Dutch defence.

"We played well up until we were leading 2-0, then we lost it," Dutch midfielder Mark van Bommel told reporters.

"We played badly but...we have to learn from it." While Ivory Coast will bow out of a difficult group, Angola gave African fans a boost with their draw against Mexico.

Angolan goalkeeper Joao Ricardo was named Man of the Match after pulling off some spectacular saves to keep his side level, although he also rode his luck at times.

"I think we showed in the end that we deserved this draw," said Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves. "This will be very important for us."