Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Argentina

Argentina are in Group B at the World Cup and will play Nigeria, South Korea and Greece. This is the Argentinian squad which I believe has the best chance of success in South Africa.

First 11

GK. Mariano Andujar, Club- Catania, Age at the World Cup (AWC) 26.

RB. Javier Zanetti, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 36.

CB. Nicolas Burdisso, Club- Roma, (AWC) 29.

CB. Walter Samuel, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 32.

LWB. Emiliano Insua, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 21.

CDM. Esteban Cambiasso, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 29.

CDM. Javier Mascherano, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 26.

RW. Lionel Messi, Club- Barcelona, (AWC) 22.

LW. Angel Di Maria, Club- Benfica, (AWC) 22.

ST. Gonzalo Higuain, Club- Real Madrid, (AWC) 22.

ST. Carlos Tevez, Club- Manchester City, (AWC) 26.

Subs

GK. Sergio Romero, Club- AZ Alkmaar, (AWC) 23.

GK. Juan Pablo Carrizo, Club- Real Zaragoza, (AWC) 26.

RB. Daniel Diaz, Club- Getafe, (AWC) 30.

CB. Martin Demichelis, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 29.

CB. Matias Silvestre, Club- Catania, (AWC) 25.

LB. Gabriel Heinze, Club- Marseille, (AWC) 32.

CM. Ever Banega, Club- Valencia, (AWC) 21.

RM. Maxi Rodriguez, Club- Liverpool, (AWC) 29.

LW. Diego Perotti, Club- Sevilla, (AWC) 21.

CAM. Javier Pastone, Club- Palermo, (AWC) 20.

ST. Diego Milito, Club- Inter Milan, (AWC) 30.

ST. Sergio Aguero, Club- Atletico Madrid, (AWC) 22.

The Coach

Argentina are coached by compatriot Diego Maradona. Maradona had no previous experience coaching a national team when he was appointed Argentina's manager in late 2008. Maradona's only previous coaching experience at any level before his Argentina appointment was in the mid nineties when he coached Argentinian club sides Mandiyu de Corrientes and Racing Club de Avellaneda for a total of 23 games.

Argentina's strengths

Their strikers, no other team at the World Cup can call upon four strikers with the quality and good form of Tevez, Higuain, Milito and Aguero. Also Messi is a pretty decent player.

Argentina's weakness

Their coach, coming into this World Cup Maradona has only 40 games of coaching experience (23 at club level, 17 with Argentina) and a winning percentage of 37.5. To be fair with Argentina he has been a lot better with a winning percentage of 70.59.