South American giant Argentina enters the 2014 World cup ready to prove that La Albicelesteis the greatest of South America’s elite squads. A clear favorite in one of the summer tournament’s weakest groups, Argentina hopes to make short work of group mates Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, and Nigeria, striding proudly down what could be a surprisingly direct path to the tournament’s final match. Sixth in FIFA’s World Rankings, Argentina is the winner of the 1978 and 1986 World Cups.
LaAlbicelestefinished second in the 1930 and 1990 tournaments, and has reached the quarter-finals in three of its last five appearances. Argentina has found similar success in other major tournaments, winning the South American Championship 14 times, winning the Pan American Games six times, and winning the Summer Olympics twice.
The Argentine roster is a Who’s Who of top-shelf talent. Captain Lionel Messi (Barcelona), the team’s leading scorer, is widely considered the world’s greatest active player. Messi has scored 243 goals in nine seasons with Barcelona, winning virtually every major award the sport has to offer. Messi has proven no less stellar wearing Argentina’s sky blue and white, but he has yet to win on the world’s greatest stage. At 26, Messi is in the prime of his career.
Brazilians may think the Argentines black-hearted villains, but the world wants nothing more than to see a triumphant Lio Messi lift the cup on July 13, 2014. Goalkeeper Sergio Romo (Monaco) will defend the Argentine net, while veteran defenders Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) and Martin Demichelis (Manchester City) will anchor the back line. Midfielders Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) and Maxi Rodriguez (Newell’s Old Boys) are veterans of many international campaigns.
These players will likely share the middle third with Angel di Maria (Real Madrid), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), and Jose Ernesto Sosa (Atletico Madrid). While Messi is the national team’s leading goal scorer, fellow forwards Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) and Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) should provide manager Alejandro Sabella plenty of excitement in the final third. Sabella came to the Argentine national team in 2011.
His previous managerial experience is somewhat limited – Sabella spent just two seasons with Argentine club team Estudiantes before accepting one of the most demanding positions in international football. Argentina begins group play versus Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 15, then faces Iran and Nigeria on June 21 and June 25, respectively.