World Cup Team Guide: Argentina

Argentina / Dave Farrar / 13 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Walter Samuel has had a superb season at Inter and if he can carry his form into the national team, Argentina will take all the beating

Whether Argentina can go all the way will of course depend on whether Diego Maradona is up to the job of leading one of the favourites at a World Cup. That will be the key because we know the talent available in the squad is certainly more than capable of going all the way.

"Of course they struggled desperately in Maradona’s six competitive games in charge and of course he has made massive mistakes in terms of personnel. But now that they have made it, there’s a chance that a settled team, or at least a settled mini squad of fifteen, may emerge, and if it does, someone will have to play out of their skins to take Argentina out."

On the eve of the last World Cup, I changed my mind in the prediction column that I was writing for the Sportsman newspaper. I had originally tipped Italy, and then put my faith in Argentina. One team won, and the other played the best football, and lost.

I have a horrible feeling that the same fate awaits Argentina this time round. Having said that, it's far too easy to dismiss them because of the madness of their coach, and it's drivel to say that they can't win the World Cup simply because of Diego Maradona. I suspect, however, that it won't stop plenty of people saying it.

Watch the FIFA official film of the 1986 World Cup, see Maradona lead the dressing room singalongs, take note of how he inspired his colleagues, and then tell me that he can't win a World Cup as a coach. If it all clicks, then Argentina have a major chance, and the last-ditch nature of their qualification gives them a degree of momentum going into the tournament.

Of course they struggled desperately in Maradona's six competitive games in charge and of course he has made massive mistakes in terms of personnel. But now that they have made it, there's a chance that a settled team, or at least a settled mini squad of fifteen, may emerge, and if it does, someone will have to play out of their skins to take Argentina out.

They have a squad of real quality, so good in fact that Maradona the motivator might be enough, and the sustained gamble on them which has developed in the past few weeks is no great surprise. They have been fortunate to be drawn in a fairly straightforward group, and they'll win it comfortably. If they are to have troubles, it's in the knockout stages where they'll begin. I won't be backing Argentina to win the World Cup, as I think that there's better value out there, but don't lay them just because of Diego.

COACH: Diego MARADONA

It feels slightly embarrassing to even try to sum up Diego Maradona in four lines. He's without question the greatest footballer there has ever been, and yet the way that he bullied his way to the national job, and acted since getting it, sums up much of his life after football. Misguided and incapable of coping outside of his comfort zone. I still think there's a chance, though, that when Maradona finds himself back at a World Cup and more soberly realises what is at stake, then we could all be surprised by the response that he gets from his team.

Key Players

Lionel Messi

I hate to be obvious, I really do, but it's impossible not to pick Messi as one of Argentina's key men, and very hard not to see him having a big influence on the tournament. One fear has to be that Maradona seems to be a little envious of Messi's fame and that the little man may not be used in his best position, and given that he thrives in space the draw could have been a lot kinder to Messi with three strong and hardworking sides having the potential to stop him. But his ball-on-a-string ability will surely shine through, in fact it HAS to shine through, if Argentina are to have any chance of winning the World Cup.

Walter Samuel

My second key player was going to be the fantastic Javier Zanetti, but Maradona has left him out of the squad altogether, and that crazy decision means that I'll have to go for his Inter team mate Walter Samuel instead. Samuel has done really well to put a torrid time at Real Madrid behind him, and found a huge level of form at Inter. He has been immense this season, and with Maradona seemingly intent on playing four centre halves across the back four, his experience will be even more important.

Gonzalo Higuain

There's been something to admire about the European career of Real Madrid's Higuain. Yes, he cost relatively big money, but he was never regarded as a Galactico, and, even though sexier names were bought to replace him, he has kept his place in the side simply by being excellent. The same applies to Argentina. Several names will be listed ahead of Higuain's when Argentina's stellar squad is talked about, but he is arguably the player who has to perform above all. If he can get the goals, then Argentina can win the pot.

Recommended Bet: Argentina to win Group B @ [1.52]

Tags: Argentina World Cup fixtures, Argentina World Cup Squad, Diego Maradona manager, Juan Veron, Leo Messi, Lionel Messi