World Cup Team Profiles: Group B: Argentina

Teams / Ari Last / 17 February 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

They've got the experience and the players, but do they have the temperament? Here's some info on those 'crazy' Argies...

The major reason why Argentina are being offered as long as [12.0] to win the tournament is that Diego Maradona is their boss. With the finest player on the planet on their roster, the Argies have, on paper at least, alongside Spain, arguably the best squad going. They have flattered to deceive in recent years though, so they'll be battling against not only an erratic leader, but fervent expectation too.

Nation: Argentina

Also known as...
'La Albiceleste'

Road to South Africa...
Tortuous. For long periods it looked as if Argentina wouldn't be in South Africa, after a string of terrible results - including a 6-1 defeat in Bolivia - left them teetering precariously on the edge of humiliation. However, they managed to turn things around and crept over the line via two crucial wins in their final two games against Peru and Uruguay.

World Cup Pedigree...
They've won the tournament twice , in 1978 and 1986, though in recent years they've certainly failed to live up to their undoubted potential. 2010 will be their tenth consecutive appearance at a World Cup, and it will be their 20th overall.

They'll be relying on...
Lionel Messi to transfer his club form onto the international stage, something he has struggled to do in recent times. For Barcelona, Messi has conquered all in the past 18 months, and a starring role within a World Cup winning side now seems like the final hurdle left for him to jump.

Something you may not have known is...
That much like this time around, in 1985 Argentina struggled to qualify for the World Cup in Mexico, before eventually going on to win the trophy in some style the following year. The 28 points gained in the 2009 qualification campaign is their lowest ever total in the ten-team qualification format. However, with Diego Maradona leading the charge once more, this time from the dugout, the nation will hope that the drama of the past 12 months will prove to be no more than a painful prelude to a beautiful conclusion.

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