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Argentina
Published on Sun, Apr 30, 2006 at 18:31, Updated on Fri, Jun 16, 2006 at 16:40 in 
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One of the favourites for the FIFA World Cup, Argentina will look forward to put up a better show than they did at Korea/Japan 2002.
The South American soccer powerhouse has won the World Cup twice but is yet to come out of the shadow of the legendary Diego Armando Maradona.
Their qulification was marked by a lot of drama with Jose Pekerman taking over the coaching assingnment midway through the campaign after Marcelo Bielsa resigned.
Argentina booked their qualification defeating arch rivals Brazil in front of a packed house in Buenos Aires.
They kept intact their 12-year unbeaten run at home but lost for the first time against Paraguay in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.
A whole new generation has grown up since Maradona led Argentina to victory at Mexico 1986 and at that time everybody believing that they would be the kings of football for a long time to come.
However, that was not to be as they lost the final at Italia 90 to West Germany and four years later Maradona was thrown out of the World Cup after failing a drugs test.
After the Maradona era came to an end the Albiceleste have only flattered to decieve.
Their new coach Pekerman has won thrice the FIFA World Youth Championships and groomed several youngsters, who are now part of the national squad, Argentina will look forward to bring back the glory days of the late 70's and 80's.
Argentina have many top players like Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano, Javier Saviola along with the experienced Roberto Ayala, Juan Pablo Sorin, Pablo Aimar and Hernan Crespo in their ranks.
Young Lionel Messi, who helped his country win the FIFA World Youth Championship in June 2005, is the latest addition to the star studded lineup.
Argentinian team at a glance | |
| Founded | 1893 |
| Affiliated to FIFA | 1912 |
| FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking | 8 |
| World Cups | 13 (1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002) |
| World Cup honours | 2-time FIFA World Cup winners (1978, 1986), 2-time FIFA World Cup runners-up (1930, 1990) |
| Continental Titles | Copa America 14 times (1921, 1925, 1927, 1927, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993), Pan American Cup 6 times (1951, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1995, 2003) |
| Argentina have been placed in group C along with Côte d'Ivoire, Serbia and Montenegro, Netherlands. | |
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