Video Argentina 0-4 Germany (World Cup 2010 - 1/4 Final)

2010.07.03 (15h00) - Argentina 0-4 Germany (World Cup 2010 - 1/4 Final)

Video Argentina 3-1 Mexico (World Cup 2010 - 1/8 Final)

2010.06.27 (19h30) - Argentina 3-1 Mexico (World Cup 2010 - 1/8 Final)

Confident Maradona looks to Germany

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Fresh from his side's 3-1 win over Mexico in the Round of 16, Argentina coach Diego Maradona said he will pick the right players to beat Germany in Saturday's FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final. A double from Argentina's Carlos Tevez, plus Gonzalo Higuain's fourth of the tournament, sealed the win while Mexico scored a consolation goal by Javier Hernandez.

Messi: Goals will come

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Lionel Messi has said that he is not worried he has so far failed to score at the FIFA World Cup™ as long as Argentina keep winning.

The Barcelona star hit the post and forced two good saves from Greece goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas last night, the second of which provided the rebound for veteran striker Martin Palermo to wrap up a 2-0 victory at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. Diego Maradona's side coasted through Group B with maximum points and seven goals, none of which have yet come from the mercurial feet of Messi.

History beckons for 2010's golden boy

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Goals are football’s very currency and, as such, it should come as no surprise that the names of Muller, Kempes, Ronaldo and Rossi are woven into the fabric of this great tournament. Indeed, the list of top scorers at previous FIFA World Cups™ reads like a who’s who of the game’s all-time great marksmen, with Argentina’s Guillermo Stabile leading in 1930 where the likes of Leonidas da Silva, Just Fontaine and Eusebio would stylishly follow. For strikers at South Africa 2010, the challenge is to join this pantheon of goalscoring legends.

With FIFA World Cup immortality at stake, the prize is undeniably attractive, and while most harbour the ambition secretly, others have spoken openly of coveting the adidas Golden Boot. It is now three months since Gonzalo Higuain declared that "my dream is to be the top scorer at the World Cup," and the good news for the Argentina No9 is that he has taken an significant step towards realising that ambition.

Bigger challenges lay ahead for Maradona

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Argentina coach Diego Maradona admitted his side will face greater tests after their 2-0 victory over Greece at the Peter Mokaba Stadium made it three wins in succession in Group B.

Defender Martin Demichelis and substitute Martin Palermo scored the goals in the last 13 minutes after finally breaking through a determined Greek rearguard action. Bayern Munich centre-back Demichelis fired home from close range in the 77th minute after his header from Lionel Messi's corner bounced back off team-mate Diego Milito.

Aguero: We'll get even stronger

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Opportunity knocks for Argentina striker Sergio Aguero, and the man known as El Kun has every intention of grabbing it with both hands. He is in fine form for club and country and, after a prolific season with Atletico Madrid in Spain, he exploded on to the FIFA World Cup™ stage with an impressive substitute performance against Korea Republic. Now he hopes to secure a starting berth in La Albiceleste’s final Group B match against Greece.

On the eve of the game, FIFA caught up with Aguero, Argentina’s leading goalscorer in qualifying, who spoke candidly about his own form, competition for places in the squad, and his relationship with his father-in-law and coach Diego Maradona.

Argentina's Lionel Messi Plots World Cup Win to Match Maradona's Success

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Argentina’s “perfect player” led his team to a perfect start to its World Cup yesterday.
Lionel Messi guided Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Greece in Polokwane, South Africa, last night, 24 years after his coach’s “Hand of God” goal helped the South Americans to their second title. Yesterday’s win allowed manager Diego Maradona’s side to progress to last 16 of the tournament after three wins in as many games.

Argentina have “the perfect player” in Messi, said Maradona, now coach of the team. “He’s small, he’s fast, he’s skilful and he can run through the legs of opposition players.”

Maradona focused on the present

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Diego Maradona wants his Argentina team to stay focused on the job at hand rather than worry about who they may or may not meet later on in the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. The South Americans took a major step towards qualification from Group B with a commanding display against Korea Republic on Thursday as Gonzalo Higuain scored the first hat-trick of the competition in a 4-1 win in Johannesburg.

Team Squad List 2010 - Argentina

Nr.	Name	Date of Birth	Position	Clubs	Height
1	Diego POZO	16/02/1978	GK	Atletico Colon (ARG)	183
2	Martin DEMICHELIS	20/12/1980	DF	Bayern Munich (GER)	184
3	Clemente RODRIGUEZ	31/07/1981	DF	Estudiantes La Plata (ARG)	166
4	Nicolas BURDISSO	12/04/1981	DF	AS Roma (ITA)	174
5	Mario BOLATTI	17/02/1985	MF	Fiorentina (ITA)	189
6	Gabriel HEINZE	19/04/1978	DF	Marseille (FRA)	178
7	Angel DI MARIA	14/02/1988	MF	Benfica (POR)	180
8	Juan VERON	09/03/1975	MF	Estudiantes La Plata (ARG)	183
9	Gonzalo HIGUAIN	10/12/1987	FW	Real Madrid (ESP)	182
10	Lionel MESSI	24/06/1987	FW	Barcelona (ESP)	170
11	Carlos TEVEZ	05/02/1984	FW	Manchester City (ENG)	173
12	Ariel GARCE	14/07/1979	DF	Atletico Colon (ARG)	175
13	Walter SAMUEL	23/03/1978	DF	Inter (ITA)	182
14	Javier MASCHERANO	08/06/1984	MF	Liverpool (ENG)	171
15	Nicolas OTAMENDI	12/02/1988	DF	Velez Sarsfield (ARG)	171
16	Sergio AGUERO	02/06/1988	FW	Atletico Madrid (ESP)	170
17	Jonas GUTIERREZ	05/07/1983	MF	Newcastle Utd. (ENG)	182
18	Martin PALERMO	07/11/1973	FW	Boca Juniors (ARG)	188
19	Diego MILITO	12/06/1979	FW	Inter (ITA)	177
20	Maxi RODRIGUEZ	02/01/1981	MF	Liverpool (ENG)	173
21	Mariano ANDUJAR	30/07/1983	GK	Catania (ITA)	180
22	Sergio ROMERO	22/02/1987	GK	AZ Alkmaar (NED)	191
23	Javier PASTORE	20/06/1989	MF	Palermo (ITA)	173

Coach: Diego MARADONA (ARG)

Coach 2010 - Argentina

• Name: Diego MARADONA
• Country: Argentina
• Date of Birth: 30 October 1960

Coaching Career

• Racing Club (ARG) : From 1995 to 1995
• Deportivo Mandiyú (ARG) : From 1994 to 1994

Playing Career

• Boca Juniors (ARG) : From 1995 to 1997
• Newell''s Old Boys (ARG) : From 1993 to 1994
• Sevilla FC (ESP) : From 1992 to 1993
• Napoli (ITA) : From 1984 to 1991
• FC Barcelona (ESP) : From 1982 to 1984
• Boca Juniors (ARG) : From 1981 to 1982
• Argentinos Juniors (ARG) : From 1976 to 1981

If there is one member of the global footballing fraternity who needs no introduction, it is Diego Armando Maradona. The Argentinian legend is considered by many to be the greatest player to have walked the Earth. Now, at the age of 49, he has put his reputation at stake by taking on an entirely different challenge at the helm of the national team.

Set to take part in his fifth FIFA World Cup™ finals, El Diez knows all about the highs and lows the competition can bring. After captaining his country to glory at Mexico 1986, he experienced the bitter taste of defeat in the Final at Italy 1990, the last time the Albiceleste reached the tournament showpiece.

Maradona began his coaching career at Mandiyu while he was serving a playing suspension for a positive drugs test at USA 1994. The unfashionable club from inland Argentina were struggling to stay in the top flight at the time and looked to the fallen idol for salvation. Maradona lasted just 12 games, however, presiding over one win, six draws and five defeats before trying his luck at Racing Club, one of Argentina’s big five. He fared little better at La Academia, resigning from the post after overseeing just two wins in 13 games. After then resuming his playing career, El Pelusa made his last league appearance in the colours of Boca Juniors in October 1997 and stayed out of the game for the next 11 years.

In October 2008, not long after travelling to Beijing to see watch Argentina win Olympic gold, Maradona was offered the job of national coach following Alfio Basile’s resignation ten games into the qualifying competition for South Africa 2010. Argentina had won just one of their previous seven games and with their qualification bid in serious jeopardy, Maradona agreed to take on the task of turning things around.

“It's totally unfair to expect to see the Maradona style when I only get the guys together two days before each game,” he explained in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com nine months into the job. “I see myself as more of a coach than a technical director.” Whatever his job description, El Diez was able to steer his side into the world finals, overcoming crushing defeats against Bolivia and Brazil to seal their passage in the final game against Uruguay in Montevideo.

Though his qualification record of won four lost four was far from perfect, Maradona has since had the satisfaction of seeing his side beat France and Germany in high-profile friendlies away from home, both times without conceding a goal.

“I've been at World Cups, I've played in two finals and I know how to get there, how to handle the group, how to coach them,” he added in that recent interview with FIFA.com. “I know what to say to them. I know what I'm talking about. I didn't come eighth or ninth and it didn't happen to me just like that. I know something about all this.” The time for him to prove it has arrived.

Argentina national football team - Profile

Profile

Despite a tortuous qualification campaign, Argentina are travelling to South Africa with serious designs on winning the title for the first time in 24 years. To achieve that goal, the 1978 and 1986 world champions have pinned their faith in coach Diego Armando Maradona, the country's most famous footballing son and the inspiration behind the second of those memorable triumphs.

His task is made easier by the fact that he has a star-studded squad at his disposal, one that features several survivors of the team that reached the quarter-finals at Germany 2006, not to mention Lionel Messi and a host of other young stars with several youth titles to their name. Given that roll call, the Argentinians appear to have the resources to atone for recent disappointments and win the country's first international trophy since the Copa America in 1993.

The road to South Africa
The Argentinians made extremely hard work of qualifying for the finals, just as they did in 1985, the prelude to an electrifying charge to glory at the 1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico™. The two-time world champions started the campaign under the stewardship of Alfio Basile, who made way for Maradona after a defeat to Chile on Matchday Ten had relegated them to third place. Yet after a series of setbacks, they eventually hauled themselves over the line with narrow victories in their final two games against Peru and Uruguay.

La Albiceleste collected 28 points in all, their lowest tally since the introduction of the ten-team group system, recording eight wins, four draws and six defeats. Three of those reverses proved particularly painful. After going down to their first competitive defeat to Chile, Argentina slumped to a humiliating 6-1 reverse in Bolivia and suffered only their second-ever home qualifying loss at the hands of Brazil. Maradona's men engineered a late revival, however, with Martin Palermo scoring a dramatic late winner in the driving rain against the Peruvians. And days later the Argentinians made sure of their place in the finals with a battling 1-0 win over La Celeste in Montevideo.

The star players
Most of Argentina's hopes are invested in Lionel Messi, widely regarded as the best footballer in the world. Having earned that reputation thanks to his consistently brilliant performances for Barcelona, La Pulga (The Flea) has yet to fire on a regular basis in the famous blue and white striped shirt, something he will be hoping to make amends for in South Africa.

Providing the midfield ballast for the darting Messi will be their captain and driving force Javier Mascherano and the hugely experienced Juan Sebastian Veron, who will be out to prove a point or two after coming in for criticism during Argentina's fateful display at Korea/Japan 2002.

The coach
Considered by many to be the finest footballer ever to walk the Earth, Diego Maradona now has the opportunity to repeat as a coach his finest achievement as a player. Straight-talking, impulsive and a born competitor, Maradona retains the aura that made him such a revered figure during his playing days and will be hoping to impart his experience and know-how to a group of players who figure among his most ardent admirers.

Prior to taking on the national job, the legendary former No10 enjoyed brief spells in the hotseat at lesser lights Mandiyu in 1994 and Racing Club a year later, before making a return to the playing fields with his beloved Boca Juniors. A nine-year sabbatical from the game ended with his appointment as Basile's successor, and having steered his side into the finals he now faces a challenge he has already risen to once in his career.

Previous FIFA World Cups
- Argentina have reached four FIFA World Cup Finals in all. They beat Netherlands in 1978 and Germany in 1986 but lost to Uruguay in 1930 and to the Germans in 1990.
- La Albiceleste will be appearing in the FIFA World Cup for the 20th time at South Africa 2010, their tenth consecutive appearance.
- Set to make his first appearance as a coach, Diego Maradona played in four successive finals competitions between 1982 and 1994.

What they said
"I tell my players that 30 days of sacrifice for the chance to kiss the World Cup is nothing in the life of a man. An achievement like that is like touching the sky. I played in World Cups and I reached two Finals. I know what it takes. I know how to lead the group and how to coach the players. I've earned the right to talk about the subject. I didn't come eighth, ninth or get knocked out in the first round. I know something about this."
Coach Diego Maradona

source fifa.com

Argentina national football team-Custom

Argentina

Nickname(s)	La Albiceleste (White and Sky blue)
Association	Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (Argentine Football Association)
Confederation	CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach	Diego Maradona
Captain	Javier Mascherano
Most caps	Javier Zanetti (136)
Top scorer	Gabriel Batistuta (56)
Home stadium	El Monumental Estadio Gigante de Arroyito.
FIFA code	ARG
FIFA ranking	7
Highest FIFA ranking	1 (March 2007, October 2007 – June 2008)
Lowest FIFA ranking	24 (August 1996)
Elo ranking	7
Highest Elo ranking	1 (most recently in July 2007, 34 times in total)
Lowest Elo ranking	28 (June 1990)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Uruguay 2 – 3 Argentina (Montevideo, Uruguay; 16 May 1901)
Biggest win
Argentina 12 – 0 Ecuador (Montevideo, Uruguay; 22 January 1942)
Biggest defeat
Czechoslovakia 6 – 1 Argentina (Helsingborg, Sweden; 15 June 1958) Uruguay 5 – 0 Argentina (Guayaquil, Ecuador; 16 December 1959) Argentina 0 – 5 Colombia (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 5 September 1993) Bolivia 6 – 1 Argentina (La Paz, Bolivia; 1 April 2009)
World Cup
Appearances	14 (First in 1930)
Best result	Winners, 1978 and 1986
Copa América
Appearances	38 (First in 1916)
Best result	Winners, 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993
Confederations Cup
Appearances	3 (First in 1992)
Best result	Winners, 1992

Argentina national football team

The Argentina national football team is the national association football team of Argentina and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Argentina has won the most international titles by any national team (19), a record shared with Uruguay.^[1]

Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world, and is currently seventh in the FIFA world rankings.^[2] The team has twice won the FIFA World Cup, in 1978 and 1986. Argentina has won the Copa América 14 times, a record shared with Uruguay, won the Confederations Cup in 1992 and the Olympic Football Tournament in 2004 and 2008.

Argentina and France are the only national teams which have won the three most important men's titles recognized by FIFA: the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, and the Olympic tournament. They have both also won their respective continental championship (Copa América for Argentina, and UEFA European Football Championship for France).

History

La Selección (The selection), also known as the Albicelestes (Light blue and whites), has appeared in four World Cup finals, including the first final in 1930, which they lost 4–2 to Uruguay. Argentina won in their next final in 1978, beating the Netherlands 3–1. Argentina, led by Diego Maradona won again in 1986, a 3–2 victory over West Germany. Their most recent World Cup final was in 1990, which they lost 1–0 to Germany by a much disputed penalty. Argentina's World Cup winning managers are César Luis Menotti in 1978, and Carlos Bilardo in 1986.

Argentina has been very successful in the Copa América, winning it fourteen times and also winning the 'extra' South American Championships in 1941, 1945 and 1946. The team also won the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Kirin Cup, both in 1992, and an Argentine team (with only three players of over 23 years of age included in the squad) won the Olympics football tournaments in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.^[5]

Argentina also won six of the fourteen football competitions at the Pan American Games, winning in 1951, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1995 and 2003.

In March 2007, Argentina reached the top of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time.^[6]

World Cup 2006

Argentina had been eliminated at the group stage at Korea/Japan 2002 FIFA World Cup, although they had been among the pre-tournament favorites. There was a high expectation of a better performance in the Germany 2006.

Argentina qualified for the knockout stages with wins over Ivory Coast (2–1) and Serbia and Montenegro (6–0), and a 0–0 draw with the Netherlands.

In the round of sixteen, Argentina defeated Mexico 2–1 in extra-time, the winning goal by Maxi Rodríguez winning an online poll organized by FIFA, as the best goal of the World Cup [1]. In the quarter final, they lost 4–2 in a penalty shootout against hosts Germany after a 1–1 draw. A brawl erupted between the Argentines and Germans after the game ended. Unused substitute Leandro Cufré was sent off for kicking Per Mertesacker, while Maxi Rodríguez hit Bastian Schweinsteiger from behind. Following an investigation of video evidence, FIFA doled out 4-game and 2-game suspensions for Cufre and Rodriguez, respectively. Germany's Torsten Frings was suspended for the semifinal match for punching Julio Ricardo Cruz.

Shortly after the elimination, coach José Pekerman resigned from his position. AFA appointed Alfio Basile, who had previously managed the national side during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Copa América 2007

Argentina won all three games in the group stage, beating United States, Colombia and Paraguay. After convincing victories over Peru and Mexico in the quarter final and semi final respectively, they were favorites to beat Brazil in the final, but were defeated 0–3.

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup Record Year Round Position GP W D* L GS GA 1930 Second Place 2 5 4 0 1 18 9 1934 Round 1 9 1 0 0 1 2 3 1938 to 1954 Withdrew - - - - - - - 1958 Round 1 13 3 1 0 2 5 10 1962 Round 1 10 3 1 1 1 2 3 1966 Quarter-finals 5 4 2 1 1 4 2 1970 Did not qualify - - - - - - - 1974 Round 2 8 6 1 2 3 9 12 1978 Champions 1 7 5 1 1 15 4 1982 Round 2 12 5 2 0 3 8 7 1986 Champions 1 7 6 1 0 14 5 1990 Second Place 2 7 2 3 2 5 4 1994 Round of 16 9 4 2 0 2 8 6 1998 Quarter-finals 6 5 3 1 1 10 4 2002 Round 1 18 3 1 1 1 2 2 2006 Quarter-finals 5 5 3 2 0 11 3 2010 Qualified Total 15/19 2 Titles 65 33 13 19 113 74

Copa América
Total: 14 Titles
Year	Position		Year	Position		Year	Position
1916	Second place		1939	Withdrew		1967	Second place
1917	Second place		1941	Champions		1975	Round 1
1919	Third place		1942	Second place		1979	Round 1
1920	Second place		1945	Champions		1983	Round 1
1921	Champions		1946	Champions		1987	Fourth place
1922	Fourth place		1947	Champions		1989	Third place
1923	Second place		1949	Withdrew		1991	Champions
1924	Second place		1953	Withdrew		1993	Champions
1925	Champions		1955	Champions		1995	Quarter-finals
1926	Second place		1956	Third place		1997	Quarter-finals
1927	Champions		1957	Champions		1999	Quarter-finals
1929	Champions		1959	Champions		2001	Withdrew
1935	Second place		1959	Second place		2004	Second place
1937	Champions		1963	Third place		2007	Second place

FIFA Confederations Cup
Year	Round	GP	W	D*	L	GS	GA
1992	Champions	2	2	0	0	7	1
1995	Second Place	3	1	1	1	5	3
1997 to 2003	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
2005	Second Place	5	2	2	1	10	10
2009	Did not qualify	-	-	-	-	-	-
Total	1 Title	10	5	3	2	22	14

*Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

**Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Olympic medal record
Men's football[7]
Silver	1928 Amsterdam	Team
Silver	1996 Atlanta	Team
Gold	2004 Athens	Team
Gold	2008 Beijing	Team

Pan American Games record

• 1951 – Champions
• 1955 – Champions
• 1959 – Champions
• 1963 – Second place
• 1967 – Round 1
• 1971 – Champions
• 1975 – Third place
• 1979 – Third place
• 1983 – Round 1
• 1987 – Third place
• 1991 – Did not enter
• 1995 – Champions
• 1999 – Did not enter
• 2003 – Champions
• 2007 – Round 1

Olympics record

1. 1924–1925 Angel Vázquez 2. 1927–1928 José Lago Millán 3. 1928–1929 Francisco Olazar 4. 1929–1930 Olazar & Tramutola 5. 1934–1934 Felipe Pascucci 6. 1934–1937 Manuel Seoane 7. 1937–1939 Ángel Fernández Roca 8. 1939–1960 Guillermo Stábile 9. 1960–1961 Victorio Spinetto 10. 1961–1961 José D'Amico 11. 1962–1963 Juan Carlos Lorenzo 12. 1963–1963 Alejandro Galán 13. 1963–1964 Horacio Amable Torres 14. 1964–1968 José María Minella 15. 1968–1968 Renato Cesarini 16. 1968–1969 Humberto Dionisio Maschio 17. 1969–1969 Adolfo Pedernera 18. 1969–1972 Juan José Pizzuti 19. 1972–1974 Enrique Omar Sívori 20. 1974–1974 Vladislao Cap & José Varacka 21. 1974–1983 César Luis Menotti 22. 1983–1990 Carlos Bilardo 23. 1990–1994 Alfio Basile 24. 1994–1998 Daniel Passarella 25. 1998–2004 Marcelo Bielsa 26. 2004–2006 José Pekerman 27. 2006–2008 Alfio Basile 28. 2008–0000 Diego Maradona

Honours

Senior team

• FIFA World Cup

• Winner (2): 1978, 1986

• Copa America

• Winner (14): 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946 (extra edition), 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993.

• FIFA Confederations Cup

• Winner (1): 1992

• Artemio Franchi Trophy

• Winner (1): 1993

• Nations' Cup

• Winner (1): 1964

• Panamerican Championship:
  • Winners (1): 1960

Friendly titles

• Copa Kirin:
  • Winners (1): 1992

• Copa Centenario Revolución de Mayo 1910:
  • Winners (1): 1910

• Copa Roca:
  • Winners (4): 1923, 1939, 1940, 1971

• Copa Lipton:
  • Winners (18): 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909,1913, 1915, 1916, 1917,

1918, 1928, 1937, 1942, 1945, 1957, 1962, 1968, 1976, 1992

• Copa Newton:
  • Winners (17): 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1916, 1918, 1924,

1927, 1928, 1937, 1942, 1945, 1957, 1973, 1975

Olympic team

See also: Argentina Olympic Team

A selection with limited team selection (only 3 players over 23 years could be included in the squad), won the following honours. The matches in these tournaments are generally not included in the statistics of the national team.

• Gold medal (2): 2004, 2008
• Silver medal (2): 1928, 1996

Uniform

1901–1910

1911–present

1958 (Away kit)

1978	1986	1996–1997	1997–1999
2000–2002	2002–2004	2004–2006	2006–2008

Managers

1. 1924–1925 Angel Vázquez 2. 1927–1928 José Lago Millán 3. 1928–1929 Francisco Olazar 4. 1929–1930 Olazar & Tramutola 5. 1934–1934 Felipe Pascucci 6. 1934–1937 Manuel Seoane 7. 1937–1939 Ángel Fernández Roca 8. 1939–1960 Guillermo Stábile 9. 1960–1961 Victorio Spinetto 10. 1961–1961 José D'Amico

11. 1962–1963 Juan Carlos Lorenzo 12. 1963–1963 Alejandro Galán 13. 1963–1964 Horacio Amable Torres 14. 1964–1968 José María Minella 15. 1968–1968 Renato Cesarini 16. 1968–1969 Humberto Dionisio Maschio 17. 1969–1969 Adolfo Pedernera 18. 1969–1972 Juan José Pizzuti 19. 1972–1974 Enrique Omar Sívori 20. 1974–1974 Vladislao Cap & José Varacka

21. 1974–1983 César Luis Menotti 22. 1983–1990 Carlos Bilardo 23. 1990–1994 Alfio Basile 24. 1994–1998 Daniel Passarella 25. 1998–2004 Marcelo Bielsa 26. 2004–2006 José Pekerman 27. 2006–2008 Alfio Basile 28. 2008–0000 Diego Maradona

Results and Fixtures

Argentina participated in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)

2010 FIFA World Cup
Qualification Standings

Team v • d • e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	18	9	7	2	33	11	+22	34
Chile	18	10	3	5	32	22	+10	33
Paraguay	18	10	3	5	24	16	+8	33
Argentina	18	8	4	6	23	20	+3	28
Uruguay	18	6	6	6	28	20	+8	24
Ecuador	18	6	5	7	22	26	−4	23
Colombia	18	6	5	7	14	18	−4	23
Venezuela	18	6	4	8	23	29	−6	22
Bolivia	18	4	3	11	22	36	−14	15
Peru	18	3	4	11	11	34	−23	13

Argentina	–	3–0	1–3	2–0	1–0	1–1	1–1	2–1	2–1	4–0
Bolivia	6–1	–	2–1	0–2	0–0	1–3	4–2	3–0	2–2	0–1
Brazil	0–0	0–0	–	4–2	0–0	5–0	2–1	3–0	2–1	0–0
Chile	1–0	4–0	0–3	–	4–0	1–0	0–3	2–0	0–0	2–2
Colombia	2–1	2–0	0–0	2–4	–	2–0	0–1	1–0	0–1	1–0
Ecuador	2–0	3–1	1–1	1–0	0–0	–	1–1	5–1	1–2	0–1
Paraguay	1–0	1–0	2–0	0–2	0–2	5–1	–	1–0	1–0	2–0
Peru	1–1	1–0	1–1	1–3	1–1	1–2	0–0	–	1–0	1–0
Uruguay	0–1	5–0	0–4	2–2	3–1	0–0	2–0	6–0	–	1–1
Venezuela	0–2	5–3	0–4	2–3	2–0	3–1	1–2	3–1	2–2	–

2010 FIFA World Cup
Group B

Main article: 2010 FIFA World Cup Group B

Team v • d • e Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Korea Republic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Recent games

• Last game: Argentina 5 – 0 Canada – Buenos Aires, Argentina – May 24, 2010 – Friendly match.
• Next game: Argentina vs Nigeria – Johannesburg, South Africa – June 12, 2010 – 2010 FIFA World Cup.
• see also: Argentina national team 2008–09 results.
• see also: Argentina national team 2009–10 results.

Head to head

Main article: Argentina national football team head to head

Players

Current squad

The following 23 players were named to the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.^[9]

Caps and goals as of May 24, 2010, subsequent to the official Friendly match against Canada.^[10]

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club 12 GK Sergio Romero February 22, 1987 (1987-02-22) (age 23) 6 0 AZ 23 GK Mariano Andújar July 30, 1983 (1983-07-30) (age 26) 4 0 Catania GK Diego Pozo February 16, 1978 (1978-02-16) (age 32) 3 0 Colón 3 DF Clemente Rodríguez July 31, 1981 (1981-07-31) (age 28) 12 1 Estudiantes 4 DF Nicolás Burdisso April 12, 1981 (1981-04-12) (age 29) 29 2 Roma 6 DF Gabriel Heinze April 19, 1978 (1978-04-19) (age 32) 64 2 Marseille 15 DF Nicolás Otamendi February 12, 1988 (1988-02-12) (age 22) 7 0 Vélez Sársfield 21 DF Ariel Garcé July 14, 1979 (1979-07-14) (age 30) 4 0 Colón DF Martín Demichelis December 20, 1980 (1980-12-20) (age 29) 25 1 Bayern Munich DF Walter Samuel March 23, 1978 (1978-03-23) (age 32) 54 5 Internazionale 5 MF Mario Bolatti February 17, 1985 (1985-02-17) (age 25) 5 1 Fiorentina 7 MF Ángel Di María February 14, 1988 (1988-02-14) (age 22) 8 1 Benfica 8 MF Juan Sebastián Verón March 9, 1975 (1975-03-09) (age 35) 70 9 Estudiantes 14 MF Javier Mascherano June 8, 1984 (1984-06-08) (age 25) 57 2 Liverpool 17 MF Jonás Gutiérrez July 5, 1983 (1983-07-05) (age 26) 16 1 Newcastle United 20 MF Maxi Rodríguez January 2, 1981 (1981-01-02) (age 29) 36 12 Liverpool 22 MF Javier Pastore June 20, 1989 (1989-06-20) (age 20) 1 0 Palermo 9 FW Gonzalo Higuaín December 10, 1987 (1987-12-10) (age 22) 5 2 Real Madrid 10 FW Lionel Messi June 24, 1987 (1987-06-24) (age 22) 44 13 Barcelona 11 FW Carlos Tévez February 5, 1984 (1984-02-05) (age 26) 52 9 Manchester City 16 FW Sergio Agüero June 2, 1988 (1988-06-02) (age 21) 21 8 Atlético Madrid 18 FW Martín Palermo November 7, 1973 (1973-11-07) (age 36) 14 8 Boca Juniors FW Diego Milito June 12, 1979 (1979-06-12) (age 30) 20 4 Internazionale

These jersey numbers were used during the match against Canada.

Recent call ups

The following players have been called up for the team in the last 12 months.

Pos.	Player	DoB (Age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Adrián Gabbarini	October 10, 1985 (1985-10-10) (age 24)	1	0	Independiente	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
GK	Cristian Campestrini	June 16, 1980 (1980-06-16) (age 29)	2	0	Arsenal Sarandí	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
GK	Nelson Ibáñez	January 13, 1981 (1981-01-13) (age 29)	1	0	Godoy Cruz	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
GK	Juan Pablo Carrizo	May 6, 1984 (1984-05-06) (age 26)	10	0	Real Zaragoza	vs Paraguay, September 9, 2009 (WCQ)
GK	Federico Vilar	May 30, 1977 (1977-05-30) (age 33)	0	0	Atlante	vs Ecuador, June 10, 2009 (WCQ)
DF	Fabricio Coloccini	January 22, 1982 (1982-01-22) (age 28)	33	1	Newcastle United	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
DF	Juan Insaurralde	October 3, 1984 (1984-10-03) (age 25)	2	0	Newell's Old Boys	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
DF	Matías Caruzzo	August 15, 1984 (1984-08-15) (age 25)	5	0	Argentinos Juniors	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Paolo Goltz	May 12, 1985 (1985-05-12) (age 25)	1	0	Huracán	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Cristian Villagra	December 27, 1985 (1985-12-27) (age 24)	2	0	River Plate	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Ignacio Canuto	February 20, 1986 (1986-02-20) (age 24)	3	1	Argentinos Juniors	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Mariano Echevarría	May 27, 1981 (1981-05-27) (age 29)	1	0	Chacarita Juniors	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Leonel Galeano	August 2, 1991 (1991-08-02) (age 18)	1	0	Independiente	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Gabriel Mercado	March 18, 1987 (1987-03-18) (age 23)	1	0	Racing	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Fabián Monzón	April 13, 1987 (1987-04-13) (age 23)	4	0	Boca Juniors	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Guillermo Burdisso	April 24, 1988 (1988-04-24) (age 22)	1	1	Rosario Central	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Gastón Díaz	March 13, 1988 (1988-03-13) (age 22)	0	0	Vélez Sársfield	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Carlos Matheu	May 13, 1985 (1985-05-13) (age 25)	1	0	Independiente	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
DF	Cristian Álvarez	January 9, 1978 (1978-01-09) (age 32)	0	0	Arsenal Sarandí	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
DF	Emiliano Papa	April 19, 1982 (1982-04-19) (age 28)	6	0	Vélez Sársfield	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
DF	Nicolas Pareja	January 19, 1984 (1984-01-19) (age 26)	0	0	Espanyol	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
DF	Cristian Ansaldi	September 20, 1986 (1986-09-20) (age 23)	1	0	Rubin Kazan	vs Spain, November 14, 2009 (Friendly)
DF	Emiliano Insúa	January 7, 1989 (1989-01-07) (age 21)	1	0	Liverpool	vs Uruguay, October 14, 2009 (WCQ)
DF	Rolando Schiavi	January 18, 1973 (1973-01-18) (age 37)	4	0	Newell's Old Boys	vs Uruguay, October 14, 2009 (WCQ)
DF	Sebastián Domínguez	July 29, 1980 (1980-07-29) (age 29)	2	0	Vélez Sársfield	vs Paraguay, September 9, 2009 (WCQ)
DF	Javier Zanetti	August 10, 1973 (1973-08-10) (age 36)	136	5	Internazionale	vs Paraguay, September 9, 2009 (WCQ)
DF	Daniel Díaz	June 13, 1979 (1979-06-13) (age 30)	12	1	Getafe	vs Russia, August 12, 2009 (Friendly)
DF	Juan Forlín	October 1, 1988 (1988-10-01) (age 21)	0	0	Espanyol	vs Ecuador, June 10, 2009 (WCQ)
MF	Sebastián Blanco	March 15, 1988 (1988-03-15) (age 22)	2	1	Lanús	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
MF	Jesús Dátolo	May 19, 1984 (1984-05-19) (age 26)	3	2	Olympiacos	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
MF	Juan Mercier	February 2, 1980 (1980-02-02) (age 30)	3	0	Argentinos Juniors	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
MF	José Ernesto Sosa	June 19, 1985 (1985-06-19) (age 24)	6	1	Estudiantes	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
MF	Facundo Bertoglio	June 30, 1990 (1990-06-30) (age 19)	1	2	Dynamo Kyiv	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	José Luis Fernández	October 26, 1987 (1987-10-26) (age 22)	1	0	Racing	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Nicolás Olmedo	March 10, 1983 (1983-03-10) (age 27)	1	0	Godoy Cruz	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Patricio Toranzo	March 19, 1982 (1982-03-19) (age 28)	2	0	Huracán	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Walter Acevedo	February 16, 1986 (1986-02-16) (age 24)	1	0	Independiente	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Nicolás Gaitán	February 23, 1988 (1988-02-23) (age 22)	3	0	Boca Juniors	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Federico Insúa	January 3, 1980 (1980-01-03) (age 30)	14	0	Boca Juniors	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Jesús Méndez	August 1, 1984 (1984-08-01) (age 25)	2	0	Boca Juniors	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Walter Erviti	June 12, 1980 (1980-06-12) (age 29)	1	0	Banfield	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Enzo Pérez	February 22, 1986 (1986-02-22) (age 24)	3	0	Estudiantes	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Franco Razzotti	February 6, 1985 (1985-02-06) (age 25)	1	0	Vélez Sársfield	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
MF	Pablo Aimar	November 3, 1979 (1979-11-03) (age 30)	52	8	Benfica	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
MF	Éver Banega	June 29, 1988 (1988-06-29) (age 21)	2	0	Valencia	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
MF	Fernando Gago	April 10, 1986 (1986-04-10) (age 24)	27	0	Real Madrid	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
MF	Esteban Cambiasso	August 18, 1980 (1980-08-18) (age 29)	46	4	Internazionale	vs Spain, November 14, 2009 (Friendly)
MF	Diego Perotti	July 26, 1988 (1988-07-26) (age 21)	1	0	Sevilla	vs Spain, November 14, 2009 (Friendly)
MF	Rodrigo Braña	March 7, 1979 (1979-03-07) (age 31)	1	0	Estudiantes	vs Uruguay, October 14, 2009 (WCQ)
MF	Lucho González	January 19, 1981 (1981-01-19) (age 29)	43	6	Marseille	vs Uruguay, October 14, 2009 (WCQ)
MF	Leonel Vangioni	May 5, 1987 (1987-05-05) (age 23)	1	0	Newell's Old Boys	vs Ghana, September 30, 2009 (Friendly)
MF	Sebastián Battaglia	November 8, 1980 (1980-11-08) (age 29)	10	0	Boca Juniors	vs Paraguay, September 9, 2009 (WCQ)
MF	Christian Giménez	February 1, 1981 (1981-02-01) (age 29)	0	0	Cruz Azul	vs Ecuador, June 10, 2009 (WCQ)
MF	Daniel Montenegro	May 27, 1979 (1979-05-27) (age 31)	3	0	América	vs Ecuador, June 10, 2009 (WCQ)
FW	Ezequiel Lavezzi	May 3, 1985 (1985-05-03) (age 25)	6	0	Napoli	2010 World Cup preliminary squad, May 11, 2010
FW	Franco Jara	July 15, 1988 (1988-07-15) (age 21)	3	1	Arsenal Sarandí	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
FW	Ariel Ortega	March 4, 1974 (1974-03-04) (age 36)	87	17	River Plate	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
FW	Juan Pablo Pereyra	May 30, 1984 (1984-05-30) (age 26)	1	0	Atlético Tucumán	vs Haiti, May 5, 2010 (Friendly)
FW	Gabriel Hauche	November 27, 1986 (1986-11-27) (age 23)	3	0	Racing	vs Jamaica, February 10, 2010 (Friendly)
FW	Mauro Boselli	May 22, 1985 (1985-05-22) (age 25)	2	0	Estudiantes	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
FW	Jonathan Cristaldo	May 3, 1989 (1989-05-03) (age 21)	0	0	Vélez Sársfield	vs Costa Rica, January 26, 2010 (Friendly)
FW	Eduardo Salvio	May 13, 1990 (1990-05-13) (age 20)	1	0	Atletico Madrid	vs Catalonia, December 22, 2009 (Unofficial Friendly)
FW	Luis Rodríguez	January 1, 1985 (1985-01-01) (age 25)	1	0	Atlético Tucumán	vs Ghana, September 30, 2009 (Friendly)
FW	Lisandro López	March 2, 1983 (1983-03-02) (age 27)	7	1	Lyon	vs Paraguay, September 9, 2009 (WCQ)
FW	Gonzalo Bergessio	July 20, 1984 (1984-07-20) (age 25)	3	2	Saint-Etienne	vs Ecuador, June 10, 2009 (WCQ)

Most capped players

As of October 10, 2009, the ten players with the most caps for Argentina are:

#	Name	Career	Caps	Goals
1.	Javier Zanetti	1994 – present	136	5
2.	Roberto Ayala	1994–2007	115	7
3.	Diego Simeone	1988–2002	106	11
4.	Oscar Ruggeri	1983–1994	97	7
5.	Diego Maradona	1977–1994	91	34
6.	Ariel Ortega	1993 – present	87	17
7.	Gabriel Batistuta	1991–2002	78	56
8.	Juan Pablo Sorín	1995–2006	76	12
9.	Américo Gallego	1975–1982	73	3
10.	Daniel Passarella	1976–1986	70	22

Top goalscorers

As of September 16, 2009, the ten players with the most goals for Argentina are:

#	Name	Career	Goals	Caps
1.	Gabriel Batistuta	1991–2002	56	78
2.	Hernán Crespo	1995–2007	36	64
3.	Diego Maradona	1977–1994	34	91
4.	Luis Artime	1961–1967	24	25
5.	Leopoldo Luque	1975–1981	22	45
5.	Daniel Passarella	1976–1986	22	70
6.	José Sanfilippo	1956–1962	21	29
6.	Herminio Masantonio	1935–1942	21	19
7.	Mario Kempes	1973–1982	20	43
8.	Norberto Méndez	1945–1956	19	31
8.	José Manuel Moreno	1936–1950	19	34
10.	René Pontoni	1942–1947	19	19

Notable players

To appear in this section, players should have played 50 games or scored at least 10 goals for Argentina, or been part of a World Cup or Copa América winning team.

Pablo Aimar (1997–2009) Antonio Angelillo (also played for Italy) (1957) Osvaldo Ardiles (1974–1982) Roberto Ayala (1995–2007) Abel Balbo (1988–1998) Gabriel Batistuta (1991–2003) Claudio Borghi (1983–1986) Miguel Ángel Brindisi (1969–1974) José Luis Brown (1983–1990) Jorge Burruchaga (1983–1990) Pedro Calomino (1917–1921) Claudio Caniggia (1988–2002) Roberto Cherro (1926–1937) Omar Oreste Corbatta (1956–1962) Hernán Crespo (1995–2007) Alfredo Di Stéfano (also played for Colombia and Spain) (1947) Ramón Díaz (1979–1982) Rogelio Domínguez (1951–1963) Ubaldo Fillol (1972–1985) Rodolfo Fischer (1967–1972) Marcelo Gallardo (1995–2002) Américo Gallego (1975–1982) Ricardo Giusti (1983–1990) Kily González (1995–2005) Sergio Goycochea (1989–1995) Gabriel Heinze (2003– ) Mario Kempes (1974–1982) Ángel Labruna (1942–1958) Claudio López (1995–2004) Félix Loustau (1945–1952) Leopoldo Luque (1975–1981) Javier Mascherano (2003– ) Diego Armando Maradona (1977–1994)

Rinaldo Martino (1942–1948) Herminio Masantonio (1935–1942) José Manuel Moreno (1940–1947) Lionel Messi (2005– ) Luis Monti (also played for Italy) (1924–1931) Julio Olarticoechea (1982–1990) Jorge Olguín (1976–1982) Ermindo Onega (1960–1967) Ariel Ortega (1993–2010) Daniel Passarella (1974–1986) Adolfo Pedernera (1940–1946) Carlos Peucelle (1928–1940) Nery Pumpido (1983–1990) Antonio Rattín (1959–1966) Fernando Redondo (1991–1996) Juan Román Riquelme (1997–2008) Oscar Ruggeri (1982–1994) Walter Samuel (1999– ) José Sanfilippo (1957–1962) Javier Saviola (2003–2006) Roberto Néstor Sensini (1987–2003) Diego Simeone (1991–2003) Omar Sivori (also played for Italy) (1956–1957) Juan Pablo Sorín (1995–2006) Guillermo Stábile (1924–1934) Domingo Tarasconi (1922–1929) Carlos Tévez (2004– ) Marcelo Trobbiani (1974–1986) Jorge Valdano (1980–1990) Juan Sebastián Verón (1995– ) Ricardo Villa (1974–1982) Javier Zanetti (1994–2009)

see also Category:Argentina international footballers

Facts

1964 line-up for the Nations' Cup

• Argentina and Uruguay hold the record for the most international matches played between two countries.^{[citation needed]} The two teams have faced each other 161 times since 1901. The first match against Uruguay was the first official international match to be played outside the United Kingdom.^[12]
• Marcelo Trobbiani was a member of the Argentina World Cup squad in 1986, but he only managed two minutes of play in the entire tournament, he came on in the 88th minute of the World Cup Final against West Germany. This two minutes of football equalled the world record for the shortest World Cup career set by Tunisia's Khemais Labidi in 1978.
• In the 2006 World Cup Leandro Cufré was given a red card and sent off after the end of the Quarter Final game with Germany for his part in the brawl after the match, even though he was a substitute and had not participated in the game itself. It is the only occasion of a player being sent off in a FIFA World Cup match after the final whistle. Four years earlier, in the 2002 World Cup Claudio Caniggia was sent off for swearing at a match official from the substitute bench.

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