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Shock upset marks legacy of generation

PARIS (Reuters) - Argentina's upset victory over hosts France in the opening match of the World Cup is another chapter in this generation's desire to leave their mark on the game.

"This team has a hunger to write history, like I said last year at Twickenham," captain Agustin Pichot said after the 17-12 success.

The victory at the Stade de France followed a string of good results in the last few years against leading nations including England, who went down to Argentina at home last November.

Pichot warned, however, at Friday's post-match news conference that Argentina would not get carried away by their success.

"This is just the beginning today, we must beat Georgia next," he said looking ahead to their second Pool D game in Lyon on Tuesday.

He commented on the fact that the tournament calendar had not been too fair with Argentina in asking them to play again four days after their first match.

"Four days, that's not just," he said.

The key game, however, is against Ireland on Sept. when Pichot said his team would not necessarily repeat the same tactics, with a lot of up-and-unders, used on Friday.

"Each match is a different story...We have to see how both teams gel and adapt," he said.

"We have to learn from (our match with) Georgia, then go to Namibia (in Marseille) and finally see how we arrive at the Ireland game.

"But I can imagine it will be as hard as today."

"We must take this (result) with a lot of caution, keep working with a lot of humility, determination, effort and seriousness," coach Marcelo Loffreda said.

"The players today were faithful to what we asked them to do.

"The control and rhythm of the match were dictated by Argentina."

France captain Raphael Ibanez echoed that sentiment when he said: "Argentina were totally into their match and deserve their victory."