Argentina moved straight into cruise control at the World Cup on Friday, pasting Serbia & Montenegro 6-0 with an awesome display of pace and precision passing.

 

An Argentina fan gestures in the stands before their Group C World Cup 2006 soccer match against Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen June 16, 2006. [Reuters]

Argentina were 3-0 up at half-time with midfielder Maxi Rodriguez netting twice either side of the goal of the tournament so far, scored by substitute Esteban Cambiasso after a mesmerising wave of 24 passes.

Striker Hernan Crespo added a fourth in the 78th minute after Serbian striker Mateja Kezman was sent off for a lunging two-footed tackle and Carlos Tevez added the fifth six minutes later.

Serbia and Montenegro fans smile in the stands before the Group C World Cup 2006 soccer match between Argentina and Serbia and Montenegro in Gelsenkirchen June 16, 2006. [Reuters]

Argentina's 18-year-old prodigy Lionel Messi, making his World Cup debut as a second-half substitute, rounded off the scoring two minutes from time.

Argentina have six points from two games and look certain to qualify for the second round from Group C. Serbia have lost their first two group games and face probable elimination.