PROFILE ARGENTINA@2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

HOW ARGENTINA QUALIFIED

     After a 4-1 win against Chile to begin their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Argentina then stumbled against Venezuela and drew 1-1 at home to Bolivia, which raised doubts as to whether coach Alejandro Sabella, who took over after Copa America 2011, was up to the task. “La Albiceleste”, however, got back on track with 2-1 win over Colombia in Barranquilla, which began Argentina's 14-match unbeaten run through the remainder of qualifying, where they finished atop the South American table. Argentina tallied 35 goals while only surrendering 15 on the way to winning the preliminary competition for the third time. The rest of South America could only chase Argentina throughout the final qualifying fixtures.

Argantina (host of FIFA World Cup 1978)

FIFA WORLD CUP FINALS HISTORY

     Argentina have contested four FIFA World Cup Finals in all, the first of them at the inaugural tournament, Uruguay 1930, when they went down 4-2 to the host nation. Respective contributions from Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona inspired them to the biggest prize in football on home soil in 1978 and again at Mexico 1986, while their last showpiece appearance came at Italy 1990, when they were denied by an Andreas Brehme penalty. Since then they have been unable to progress beyond the quarter-finals.

THE KEY PLAYERS

Carlos Tevez and Lionel Messi

     With the landmark achievement of claiming four consecutive FIFA Ballon d'Ors (2009-2012), Lionel Messi in the undisputed leader of the Argentina national team and a multiple-trophy winner with Barcelona. Breaking all kind of goal-records, “La Pulga” is now looking to achieve greatness with his country after failing, somewhat surprisingly, to find the back of the net at South Africa 2010. Supporting him will be an all-star cast featuring Carlos Tevez – he is my favorite player :D, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria, all of them on top of their game with some of Europe’s leading clubs.  

FORMER STARS

     Daniel Passarella, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Omar “Batigol” Batistuta– he is my favorite soccer player :D , and Mario Kempes.

Batigol

BEST PERFORMANCES IN A FIFA COMPETITION

     FIFA World Cup Argentina 1978, Mexico 1986 (Winners), FIFA U-20 World Cup Japan 1979, Qatar 1995, Malaysia 1997, Argentina 2001, Netherlands 2005, Canada 2007 (Winners), FIFA Confederations Cup Saudi Arabia 1992 (Winners), Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 (Winners).

WORLD CUP 2014 SQUAD (23)

Goalkeepers (3): Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders (7): Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan).

Midfielders (8): Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Enzo Perez (Benfica).

Forwards (5): Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan).

Coach: Alejandro Sabella

RIVALS@WORLD CUP 2014

Group F: Argentina, Nigeria, Iran, and Bosnia-Herzegovina (new comer)

South American Zone:  Argentina, Brazil, Chille, Colombia, Ecuador, and Uruguay

 

Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero

THE MATCHES & RESULT@WORLD CUP 2014

Group Stage

Argentina vs Bosnia-Herzegovina: 2-1 (Sunday, 15 June 2014@Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Jenairo)

Argentina vs Iran: 1-0 (Saturday, 21 June 2014@Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte)

Argentina vs Nigeria: 3-2 (Wednesday, 25 June 2014@Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre)

Second Stage (Round of 16)

Argentina vs Switzerland: 1-0 (Tuesday, 1 July 2014@Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo)

Quarter-Finals

Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon)

Argentina vs Belgium (Friday, 4 July 2014-Saturday, 5 July 2015@Estadio Nacional Brasilia)

Semi-Finals*

Argentina vs Costa Rica/ Netherlands (Tuesday 8 July 2014-Wednesday, 9 July 2014@ Arena de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo)

Play-Off For Third Place*

France vs Costa Rica/ Netherlands (Saturday, 12 July 2014)

Finals*

Argentina vs Brazil/ France (Sunday, 13 July 2014@Estadio do Maracana, Rio de Jenairo)

*my prediction :D

I really hope Argentina will be the winners of 2014 FIFA World Cup. Good luck! :) 

[Sumber: fifa.com, go.telegraph.co.uk]