Word Cup preview: Argentina
Coach: Diego Maradona
Key player: Lionel Messi
Previous best: Winners 1978 and 1986
Before November 2008, Argentina were widely considered early favourites for the 2010 World Cup finals.
With a glittering list of stars in their ranks to rival any other nation, the two-time World Cup winners were cruising their way through qualification, looking firmly on course to reach their 15th World Cup finals.
And then, rather abruptly, things began to go pear-shaped.
A shock 1-0 defeat against Chile in October 2008 signalled the end of Alfio Basile’s two-year reign as head coach, and paved the way for the man every Argentinian both feared would take over and hoped would take over in equal measure: Diego Armando Maradona.
Argentina’s prodigal son was appointed in a shock move by the AFA midway through qualification, and the world was rightfully sceptical that such a bold move would pay off. After all, this was the man who had no previous managerial experience, had come close to death on two previous occasions, would inevitably fail to turn up for interviews and once infamously shot a journalist.
The idea – and the hope – was that Maradona would follow in the footsteps of Franz Beckenbauer and complete his transition from the country’s most iconic football legend to World Cup-winning manager.
El Diego’s appointment always had the feel of a gamble of epic proportions; and during his second competitive game in charge of the national team, Argentina were destroyed 6-1 in La Paz by Bolivia.
It was a result which sent shockwaves around the world. No sooner had Maradona taken charge, than the AFA’s gamble looked set to backfire in the worst possible fashion.
Despite having the likes of Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and the world’s best player, Lionel Messi, at his disposal, Argentina had lost their way and was failing to gel as a team.
It was a far cry from the mesmeric team performances at the previous World Cup in Germany. Many believed one of the significant reasons for this was the absence of talismanic playmaker, Juan Roman Riquelme, who refused to play under the new coach stating: "We don't share the same codes of ethics."
Although Riquelme was undoubtedly a huge loss to the Albicelestes, people inevitably began to look at the role of Maradona, as the rumours suggesting he would be replaced soon began to gather momentum.
With Argentina on the brink of missing out on their first World Cup finals since 1970, the AFA kept faith in their controversial coach and allowed him to take charge of the final two qualifying matches against Peru and Uruguay.
Maradona needed divine intervention against Peru, when, in the 89th minute, the team bottom of South America’s qualifying table equalised against Argentina’s crestfallen eleven.
On the brink of crashing out before the World Cup had even begun, 36-year-old Boca Juniors striker Martin Palermo, tapped in from close range deep in extra time to salvage Argentina’s World Cup dream.
Cue dramatic belly-sliding celebrations from Maradona in the pouring rain, and Palermo screaming to the heavens with his shirt off like Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption. It was the moment which Maradona hailed as "the miracle of Saint Palermo". It was also the moment which saved the flamboyant coach his job.
In the final match of qualification, Argentina were still not out of the woods. But Mario Bolatti’s late strike in Montevideo proved enough for the nation to reach the World Cup finals.
Branding it a "rollercoaster" qualification campaign would be doing a gross disservice to the death-defying crusade which Maradona and his 108 – yes, 108 – players had just survived by the skin of their teeth.
With the World Cup now just around the corner, Maradona is, remarkably, still in charge – despite serving a two-month ban at the start of the year for a foul-mouthed outburst against his critics in the aftermath of the Uruguay victory – and promises to deliver unrivalled entertainment-value in South Africa.
Although some may still be unwisely ruling them out of contention, a team with Barcelona’s Messi simply can’t be discounted. The 22-year-old has scored an incredible 45 goals for the Catalan giants this season and has the ability to unlock any defence in the world.
Labelled "the new Maradona" after bursting onto the scene six years ago, Messi has proven himself as the real deal; and it’s he who holds the key for Argentina to reach the latter stages of the World Cup.
But it’s down to Maradona – the hero of 1986 – to get the best out of a squad of players most international managers would give their right arm for.
In recent World Cups, Argentina have flattered to deceive. This time, written off by many, Maradona and co could be about to silence their critics once and for all. Not through expletives, though, but by winning football’s most prestigious trophy for a third time.
Argentina squad
1 Diego POZO (Colon)
2 Martín DEMICHELIS (Bayern Munich)
3 Clemente RODRÍGUEZ (Estudiantes)
4 Nicolás BURDISSO (Inter Milan)
5 Mario BOLATTI (Fiorentina)
6 Gabriel HEINZE (Olympique Marseille)
7 Ángel DI MARIA (Benfica)
8 Juan Sebastián VERÓN (Estudiantes)
9 Gonzalo HIGUAÍN (Real Madrid)
10 Lionel MESSI (Barcelona)
11 Carlos TÉVEZ (Manchester City)
12 Ariel GARCÉ (Colon)
13 Walter SAMUEL (Inter Milan)
14 Javier MASCHERANO (Liverpool)
15 Nicolás OTAMENDI (Velez Sarsfield)
16 Sergio AGÜERO (Atletico Madrid)
17 Jonás GUTIÉRREZ (Newcastle)
18 Martín PALERMO (Boca Juniors)
19 Diego MILITO (Inter Milan)
20 Maxi RODRÍGUEZ (Liverpool)
21 Mariano ANDÚJAR (Catania)
22 Sergio ROMERO (AZ Alkmaar)
23 Javier PASTORE (Palermo)
Click here for previews of Argentina's Group B opponents:
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Greece-a12337
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-Nigeria-a12338
http://www.senore.com/World-Cup-2010-preview-South-Korea-a12339
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