ARGENTINA
Argentina National Football Team
Profile
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 in coach Diego Armando Maradona, the country's most famous footballing son and the inspiration behind the second of those memorable triumphs.
His task 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 name. Given that roll call, the Argentinians appear to have the resources to atone for recent disappointments and win the country's first international trophy since the Copa America in 1993.
The road to South Africa
The Argentinians made extremely hard work of qualifying for the finals, just as they did in 1985, the prelude to an electrifying charge to glory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™. The two-time world champions started the campaign under the stewardship of Alfio Basile, who made way for Maradona after a defeat to Chile on Matchday Ten had relegated them to third place. Yet after a series of setbacks, 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. Three of those reverses proved particularly painful. After going down to their first competitive defeat to Chile, Argentina slumped to a humiliating 6-1 reverse in Bolivia and suffered only their second-ever home qualifying loss at the hands of Brazil. Maradona's men engineered a late revival, however, with Martin Palermo scoring a dramatic late winner in the driving rain against the Peruvians. And days later the Argentinians made sure of their place in the finals with a battling 1-0 win over La Celeste in Montevideo.
The star players
Most of Argentina's hopes are invested in Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best footballer in the world. Having earned that reputation thanks to his consistently brilliant performances for Barcelona, La Pulga (The Flea) has yet to fire on a regular basis in the famous blue and white striped shirt, something he will be hoping to make amends for in South Africa.
Providing the midfield ballast for the darting Messi will be their captain and driving force Javier Mascherano and the hugely experienced Juan Sebastian Veron, who will be out to prove a point or two after coming in for criticism during Argentina's fateful display at Korea/Japan 2002.
The coach
Considered by many to be the finest footballer ever to walk the Earth, Diego 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 and will be hoping to impart his experience and know-how to a group of players who figure among his most ardent admirers.
Prior to taking on the national job, the legendary former No10 enjoyed brief spells in the hotseat at lesser lights Mandiyu in 1994 and Racing Club a year later, before making a return to the playing fields with his beloved Boca Juniors. A nine-year sabbatical from the game ended with his appointment as Basile's successor, and having steered his side into the finals he now faces a challenge he has already risen to once in his career.
Previous FIFA World Cups
- Argentina have reached four FIFA 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 in the FIFA World Cup for the 20th time at South Africa 2010, their tenth consecutive appearance.
- Set to make his first appearance as a coach, Diego Maradona played in four successive finals competitions between 1982 and 1994.
What they said
"I tell my players that 30 days of sacrifice for the chance to kiss the World Cup is nothing in the life of a man. An achievement like that is like touching the sky. I played in World Cups and I reached two Finals. I know what it takes. I know how to lead the group and how to coach the players. I've earned the right to talk about the subject. I didn't come eighth, ninth or get knocked out in the first round. I know something about this." Coach Diego Maradona
The Coach:
* Name: Diego MARADONA
* Country: Argentina
* Date of Birth: 30 October 1960
Coaching Career
* Racing Club (ARG) : From 1995 to 1995
* Deportivo Mandiyú (ARG) : From 1994 to 1994
If there is one member of the global footballing fraternity who needs no introduction, it is Diego Armando Maradona. The Argentinian legend is considered by many to be the greatest player to have walked the Earth. Now, at the age of 49, he has put his reputation at stake by taking on an entirely different challenge at the helm of the national team.
Set to take part in his fifth FIFA World Cup™ finals, El Diez knows all about the highs and lows the competition can bring. After captaining his country to glory at Mexico 1986, he experienced the bitter taste of defeat in the Final at Italy 1990, the last time the Albiceleste reached the tournament showpiece.
Maradona began his coaching career at Mandiyu while he was serving a playing suspension for a positive drugs test at USA 1994. The unfashionable club from inland Argentina were struggling to stay in the top flight at the time and looked to the fallen idol for salvation. Maradona lasted just 12 games, however, presiding over one win, six draws and five defeats before trying his luck at Racing Club, one of Argentina’s big five. He fared little better at La Academia, resigning from the post after overseeing just two wins in 13 games. After then resuming his playing career, El Pelusa made his last league appearance in the colours of Boca Juniors in October 1997 and stayed out of the game for the next 11 years.
In October 2008, not long after travelling to Beijing to see watch Argentina win Olympic gold, Maradona was offered the job of national coach following Alfio Basile’s resignation ten games into the qualifying competition for South Africa 2010. Argentina had won just one of their previous seven games and with their qualification bid in serious jeopardy, Maradona agreed to take on the task of turning things around.
“It's totally unfair to expect to see the Maradona style when I only get the guys together two days before each game,” he explained in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com nine months into the job. “I see myself as more of a coach than a technical director.” Whatever his job description, El Diez was able to steer his side into the world finals, overcoming crushing defeats against Bolivia and Brazil to seal their passage in the final game against Uruguay in Montevideo.
Though his qualification record of won four lost four was far from perfect, Maradona has since had the satisfaction of seeing his side beat France and Germany in high-profile friendlies away from home, both times without conceding a goal.
“I've been at World Cups, I've played in two finals and I know how to get there, how to handle the group, how to coach them,” he added in that recent interview with FIFA.com. “I know what to say to them. I know what I'm talking about. I didn't come eighth or ninth and it didn't happen to me just like that. I know something about all this.” The time for him to prove it has arrived.
Argentine squad
Coach: Diego MARADONA (ARG)
HQ
THE STAR
Argentina National Football Team
Profile
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 in coach Diego Armando Maradona, the country's most famous footballing son and the inspiration behind the second of those memorable triumphs.
His task 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 name. Given that roll call, the Argentinians appear to have the resources to atone for recent disappointments and win the country's first international trophy since the Copa America in 1993.
The road to South Africa
The Argentinians made extremely hard work of qualifying for the finals, just as they did in 1985, the prelude to an electrifying charge to glory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™. The two-time world champions started the campaign under the stewardship of Alfio Basile, who made way for Maradona after a defeat to Chile on Matchday Ten had relegated them to third place. Yet after a series of setbacks, 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. Three of those reverses proved particularly painful. After going down to their first competitive defeat to Chile, Argentina slumped to a humiliating 6-1 reverse in Bolivia and suffered only their second-ever home qualifying loss at the hands of Brazil. Maradona's men engineered a late revival, however, with Martin Palermo scoring a dramatic late winner in the driving rain against the Peruvians. And days later the Argentinians made sure of their place in the finals with a battling 1-0 win over La Celeste in Montevideo.
The star players
Most of Argentina's hopes are invested in Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best footballer in the world. Having earned that reputation thanks to his consistently brilliant performances for Barcelona, La Pulga (The Flea) has yet to fire on a regular basis in the famous blue and white striped shirt, something he will be hoping to make amends for in South Africa.
Providing the midfield ballast for the darting Messi will be their captain and driving force Javier Mascherano and the hugely experienced Juan Sebastian Veron, who will be out to prove a point or two after coming in for criticism during Argentina's fateful display at Korea/Japan 2002.
The coach
Considered by many to be the finest footballer ever to walk the Earth, Diego 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 and will be hoping to impart his experience and know-how to a group of players who figure among his most ardent admirers.
Prior to taking on the national job, the legendary former No10 enjoyed brief spells in the hotseat at lesser lights Mandiyu in 1994 and Racing Club a year later, before making a return to the playing fields with his beloved Boca Juniors. A nine-year sabbatical from the game ended with his appointment as Basile's successor, and having steered his side into the finals he now faces a challenge he has already risen to once in his career.
Previous FIFA World Cups
- Argentina have reached four FIFA 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 in the FIFA World Cup for the 20th time at South Africa 2010, their tenth consecutive appearance.
- Set to make his first appearance as a coach, Diego Maradona played in four successive finals competitions between 1982 and 1994.
What they said
"I tell my players that 30 days of sacrifice for the chance to kiss the World Cup is nothing in the life of a man. An achievement like that is like touching the sky. I played in World Cups and I reached two Finals. I know what it takes. I know how to lead the group and how to coach the players. I've earned the right to talk about the subject. I didn't come eighth, ninth or get knocked out in the first round. I know something about this." Coach Diego Maradona
The Coach:
* Name: Diego MARADONA
* Country: Argentina
* Date of Birth: 30 October 1960
Coaching Career
* Racing Club (ARG) : From 1995 to 1995
* Deportivo Mandiyú (ARG) : From 1994 to 1994
If there is one member of the global footballing fraternity who needs no introduction, it is Diego Armando Maradona. The Argentinian legend is considered by many to be the greatest player to have walked the Earth. Now, at the age of 49, he has put his reputation at stake by taking on an entirely different challenge at the helm of the national team.
Set to take part in his fifth FIFA World Cup™ finals, El Diez knows all about the highs and lows the competition can bring. After captaining his country to glory at Mexico 1986, he experienced the bitter taste of defeat in the Final at Italy 1990, the last time the Albiceleste reached the tournament showpiece.
Maradona began his coaching career at Mandiyu while he was serving a playing suspension for a positive drugs test at USA 1994. The unfashionable club from inland Argentina were struggling to stay in the top flight at the time and looked to the fallen idol for salvation. Maradona lasted just 12 games, however, presiding over one win, six draws and five defeats before trying his luck at Racing Club, one of Argentina’s big five. He fared little better at La Academia, resigning from the post after overseeing just two wins in 13 games. After then resuming his playing career, El Pelusa made his last league appearance in the colours of Boca Juniors in October 1997 and stayed out of the game for the next 11 years.
In October 2008, not long after travelling to Beijing to see watch Argentina win Olympic gold, Maradona was offered the job of national coach following Alfio Basile’s resignation ten games into the qualifying competition for South Africa 2010. Argentina had won just one of their previous seven games and with their qualification bid in serious jeopardy, Maradona agreed to take on the task of turning things around.
“It's totally unfair to expect to see the Maradona style when I only get the guys together two days before each game,” he explained in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com nine months into the job. “I see myself as more of a coach than a technical director.” Whatever his job description, El Diez was able to steer his side into the world finals, overcoming crushing defeats against Bolivia and Brazil to seal their passage in the final game against Uruguay in Montevideo.
Though his qualification record of won four lost four was far from perfect, Maradona has since had the satisfaction of seeing his side beat France and Germany in high-profile friendlies away from home, both times without conceding a goal.
“I've been at World Cups, I've played in two finals and I know how to get there, how to handle the group, how to coach them,” he added in that recent interview with FIFA.com. “I know what to say to them. I know what I'm talking about. I didn't come eighth or ninth and it didn't happen to me just like that. I know something about all this.” The time for him to prove it has arrived.
Argentine squad
Coach: Diego MARADONA (ARG)
HQ
THE STAR
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