Despite a tortuous qualification campaign, Argentina are travelling to South Africa with serious designs on winning the title for the first time in 24 years.
To achieve that goal, the 1978 and 1986 world champions have pinned their faith on coach, Diego Maradona. His job is made easier by the fact that he has a star-studded squad at his disposal, one that features several survivors of the team that reached the quarter-finals at Germany 2006, not to mention Lionel Messi and a host of other young stars with several youth titles to their names.
The road to South Africa
The two-time world champions made hard work of qualifying for the finals, but they eventually hauled themselves over the line with narrow victories in their final two games against Peru and Uruguay. La Albiceleste collected 28 points in all, their lowest tally since the introduction of the ten-team group system, recording eight wins, four draws and six defeats.
Star players
Most of Argentina’s hopes are invested in Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best footballer in the world. Providing the midfield inspiration will be Javier Mascherano and the hugely experienced Juan Sebastian Veron.
The coach
Considered by many to be the finest footballer of all time, Maradona now has the opportunity to repeat as a coach his finest achievement as a player. Straight-talking, impulsive and a born competitor, Maradona retains the aura that made him such a revered figure during his playing days.
Facts
- Argentina have reached four Soccer World Cup finals in all. They beat Netherlands in 1978 and Germany in 1986 but lost to Uruguay in 1930 and to the Germans in 1990.
- La Albiceleste will be appearing at the Soccer World Cup for the 20th time, their tenth consecutive appearance.
- Set to make his first appearance as a coach, Diego Maradona has previously played in four successive finals competitions between 1982 and 1994. — Fifa