Argentina
Country: Argentina
Nickname: “Albicelestes” (“The White and Sky Blue”)
Argentina's history is a stormy one. One of the biggest countries in South America, it has seen authoritarian and military dictatorships between periods of democracy. Argentina today is best known for the economic crisis that gripped the nation in 2001 after the country defaulted on loans. Since then, however, Argentina has made a remarkable recovery, paying off its debts to the World Bank this year and stabilizing a currency once in free-fall.
The country gained independence from Spain in 1816 but is remembered in modern times for the post-WWII period under the Peronist dictatorship (the musical, Evita, is based upon Eva Peron) and its habit of harboring ex-Nazis. A military junta took over in 1976 and became embroiled in a war with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, which it lost.
Argentine football remains in something of a crisis: Violence and economic turmoil has hit Argentina's league hard, with the extreme "ultra" fan groups gaining an increasing say in club operations.
PAST WORLD CUP SUCCESS: Argentina has won the World Cup twice, when it hosted the finals in 1978, and in Mexico in 1986. It has qualified for the World Cup a total of 13 times, and has an unbroken string of appearances since the 1974 tournament in West Germany. Argentina was runner-up in 1930 and 1990. Lionel Messi piloted Argentina to the 2005 World Youth Championship.
REGIONAL SUCCESS: Argentina has dominated the Copa America, winning it 14 times, more than any other nation. They took the crown most recently in 1993 (a 2-1 win over Mexico behind two goals from talismanic striker Gabriel Batistuta). They were finalists in 2007 in Peru, falling 3-0 for the second straight time to champions and fierce regional rivals Brazil. Argentina has been runners-up 12 times. Argentina has also been dominant at the youth level, and are the current Olympic champions.
LEAGUE OVERVIEW: Argentina's league is strong and storied. Boca Juniors and River Plate historically have dominated the split-season leagues (like many South American and Central American countries, Argentina's league plays an Apertura and Clausura tournament), but both have struggled in recent years. Argentine teams have won the Copa Libertadores 20 times with Independiente being the most dominant all-time side.
KEY PLAYERS: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), who is arguably the best and most dangerous player in the world. Diego Milito (Inter) has been a solid forward and scored both goals for Inter against Bayern in the Champions League final last month (his brother Gabriel didn't get a look despite a strong season in Spain). Walter Samuel (Inter) will get the nod in the back. Javier Mascherano (Liverpool) is erratic, but may be the best of several bad options. Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes) seems to have run out of air, but he's on the roster. Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, who had fine seasons in Italy with Inter, aren't. Carlos Tevez (Manchester City) had a brilliant season; Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid) and Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid) are the other options. Watch Martin Palermo (Boca) slog his way through this last run. He's 36.
FIFA RANKINGS: 7th. Which is hilarious. Highest was 1st (2008); lowest 24th (1996).
FIRST ROUND OPPONENTS: Greece, South Korea, Nigeria
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST GREECE: Argentina beat Greece badly 4-0 at Foxborough at the 1994 World Cup in their only meeting.
HEAD TO HEAD AGAINST NIGERIA: Nigeria has a long history against Argentina, but mainly at the youth level -- where Nigeria holds a firm edge. At the senior level, however, Argentina dominates. They have met twice in the World Cup, with the Albicelestes winning both times. In 1994, Nigeria fell 2-1 in Foxborough; in 2002, Argentina got the better of them in Japan, 1-0. They played to a scoreless draw at the 1995 Confederations Cup.
HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Uh, well, just barely. Argentina really struggled, finishing fourth, edging Uruguay for the final automatic spot. Argentina needed and got a 1-0 away win on the final day. They had some bad losses. Colombia, Paraguay, Ecuador and Chile beat them; Bolivia whipped them 6-1, and then Brazil rubbed their noses in it.
PERCENTAGE CHANCE TO PROGRESS: 75%. Any other time I'd say, yeah, Argentina's getting out of this group, are ya kidding? But this team is so iffy that for all I know, Maradona will spontaneously combust and send half the squad home.
TO WATCH: Maradona. He's a potential train wreck.
ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Ariel Garce (Colon), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan)
Midfielders: Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City)
Special Thanks to:
Source:
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/32countries
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