Argentina National Soccer Team

Quick Facts:

Nickname – White and Sky Blues
Home Stadium – None
Confederation – CONMEBOL
Manager – Diego Maradona
All time High Scorer: Gabriel Batistuta with 56 goals in 78 appearances
Most Appearances: Javier Zanetti with 136 appearances
Argentina Soccer Jerseys

World Cup History: Out of their 14 appearances in the FIFA World Cup, Argentina have won it all twice, in 1978 and 1986. In 2010 Diego Maradona will attempt to be the second man to win the title as both a player and a manager, the first being Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer.

Prior World Cup Results:

1930: Second Place
1934: Round One
1958: Round One
1962: Round One
1966: Quarterfinals
1974: Round Two
1978: Champions
1982: Round Two
1986: Champions
1990: Second Place
1994: Round of 16
1998: Quarterfinals
2002: Round One
2006: Quarterfinals

Analysis:

When most people think of Argentina and their FIFA World Cup achievements the first name that comes to mind is the immortal Diego Maradona and his glittering, if often controversial performances on the world soccer stage in the eighties. That dazzling run ended in 1994 when he was sent home from the USA in disgrace after failing a drug test during the group phase.

But now, although many speculated he could not do it, Maradona will be going to the FIFA 2010 World Cup, this time as head coach. Showing no signs of calming down at the age of almost 50, Maradona ripped into his critics after the win over Uruguay that assured their passage to South Africa, treating them to an obscenity laden rant and a promise that he would silence them all.

The current side is centered around the man that many have anointed Maradona’s successor in Argentine soccer – Lionel Messi – considered by many to be the best soccer player on the planet right now. There are also a number of veterans on the squad who were a part of the 1994 team that fizzled after Maradona was sent home, including Javier Zanetti, whose 136 international caps outstrip his manager’s 91 by a long margin. He was captain of the side until 2009 but lost that title to Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano.

As the winners of 19 international titles – a record they share with Uruguay – everyone always expects that the Argentineans will make a splash at any World Cup. In the years since Maradona’s playing days ended that has not really been the case – even though in 2007 the team reached the top of the FIFA World rankings for the first time in their history. Now an entire nation is looking to that favorite son to change things in 2010 and restore Argentina to the World Cup power they once were.