Argentina
Coach: Jose Pekerman
Tactics: Well organised with plenty of flair going forward.
Star Player: Juan Roman Riquelme - Villarreal playmaker who possesses the skill to carve open the tightest of defences.
Verdict: Rightly regarded as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Strong at the back with the likes of Roberto Ayala and Fabricio Coloccini, clever in midfield with Riquelme operating alongside the more defensive-minded Esteban Cambiasso and potent up front with Hernan Crespo and Javier Saviola. Add the brilliance of teenager Lionel Messi and it makes for an intoxicating mix.
Ten things you didn’t know about Argentina
1. The name Argentina comes from the Latin word argentum, which means silver. The origin of the name goes back to the voyages made by the first Spanish conquistadores (conquerors) to the Río de la Plata. The shipwrecked survivors of the expedition mounted by Juan Díaz de Solís discovered Indians in the region who presented them with silver objects.
2. Argentina has an area of 2.77 million sq. km, which gives it a great variety of climates and landscapes. Known as the ‘land of ice and fire’ it can be simultaneously hot in one region and cold in another.
3. Laszlo Biro, the inventor of the modern ballpoint pen moved to Argentina in 1943 after fleeing anti-Jewish laws in home country of Hungary. He formed Biro Pens of Argentina and licensed his design to the British, to produce ballpoint pens for Royal Air Force aircrew, who found they worked much better than fountain pens at high altitude.
4. Many fans of Argentina's most popular soccer team, Boca Juniors, pledge eternal devotion to the club. Die-hard fans can even buy their own coffins decorated in Boca colours and symbols for between 2,000 pesos and 2,500 pesos ($650 to $800).
5. Argentina is the only country in the world where you can find both monkeys (in the North East jungles) and penguins (in Patagonia.)
6. In the 19th century a Welsh settlement began in Argentina. There is now an important Welsh-speaking colony in the province of Chubut, in Argentine Patagonia (Y Wladfa in Welsh).
7. The Falkland Islands are a self-governing and English speaking Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom. In 1982 Argentina invaded the islands, resulting in the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Although the UK and Argentina since resumed diplomatic relations in 1989, no further negotiations have taken place and Argentina continues to claim sovereignty over the islands.
8. In 1995, a skeleton of the largest carnivorous dinosaur was discovered in Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina. The Giganotosaurus Carolinii was 12.5 m (40 ft) long, and weighed 8 tonnes. Although it resembled the Tyrannosaurus Rex it was in fact taller and more heavily built than T-Rex.
9. A local law states that horses are required to wear hats in hot weather in Rasario, Argentina.
10. Juan Perón, three times President of Argentina was also married three times. His second wife, Eva Perón, was hugely popular with the people of Argentina and was immortalised in several books, films and stage plays. Juan Perón died in 1974 and was buried in Buenos Aires. In 1987 his tomb was broken into and the hands of his corpse were stolen. To this date, who did it and why still remains a mystery.
Argentina player profiles
Goalkeepers
Roberto Carlos Abbondanzieri
Made his debut for Argentina in June 2004, against Paraguay, aged 21. He currently plays for Boca Juniors.
Date of birth: August 19, 1972
Height: 1.86m (6ft)
Fact: Abbondanzieri was named South American Goalkeeper of the Year in 2003.
Oscar Ustari
Currently playing for Argentine side Independiente. As at March 2006, Ustari is yet to make his senior debut for Argentina.
Date of birth: July 3, 1986
Height: 1.84m (6ft)
Fact: Ustari was a member of the Argentina U20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championships in 2005.
Leonardo Franco
Currently playing for Atletico Madrid.
Date of birth: May 29, 1977
Height: 1.88m (6ft 1in)
Defenders
Gabriel Heinze
Made his debut for Argentina in April 2003, against Libya, aged 25. Currently playing for Manchester United, Heinze has won 28 caps for Argentina and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 9, 1978
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Although he holds an Italian passport, when given the opportunity to play international football at a senior level, Heinze chose to play for Argentina (his country of birth), rather than Italy (his father's home country) or Germany (his mother's home country).
Juan Pablo Sorín
Made his debut for Argentina in February 1995, against Bulgaria, aged 18. Currently playing for Spanish side Villarreal, Sorín has 70 caps for Argentina and has scored 10 goals for his county (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: May 5, 1976
Height: 1.73m (5ft 8in)
Fact: Sorín was a member of the Argentina U20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championships in 2005; at club level, his honours include cups and titles in four different countries—the Italian Serie A title with Juventus in 1996, the Argentina League with River Plate in 1996 and 1997, the Brazilian Cup with Cruzeiro in 2000, and the French Cup with Paris St-Germain in 2004.
Roberto Ayala
Made his debut for Argentina in November 1994, against Chile, aged 21. Currently playing for Valencia, Ayala has won 99 caps for Argentina and has scored 6 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: April 13, 1973
Height: 1.77m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Ayala is the second most-capped member of the current Argentina squad, and the third most capped Argentinian player of all time; in 2005, he was included on the shortlist of the world's 55 leading players selected by contemporary professional footballers as part of the World XI Player Awards.
Nicolás Andrés Burdisso
Made his debut for Argentina in January 2003, against Honduras, aged 21. He currently plays for Inter Milan.
Date of birth: April 12, 1981
Height: 1.83m (6ft)
Fact: Burdisso transferred to Inter Milan from Argentinian side Boca Juniors in the summer of 2004; at the end of his first season in Italy, his club won the Italian Cup.
Gabriel Milito
Made his debut for Argentina in December 2002, against Mexico, aged 22. He currently plays for Spanish side Real Zaragoza.
Date of birth: September 7, 1980
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Milito was named Argentinian Player of the Year in 2002.
Leandro Cufre
Made his debut for Argentina in December 2000, against Mexico, aged 21. He currently plays for Italian side AS Roma.
Date of birth: May 9, 1978
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Fact: Cufre was a member of the Argentinian U20 side that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia in 1997.
Fabricio Coloccini
Made his debut for Argentina in April 2003, against Libya, aged 21. He currently plays for Deportivo La Coruña.
Date of birth: January 22, 1982
Height: 1.m (ft)
Fact: Deportivo La Coruña is the fourth Spanish club that Coloccini has played for; prior to his move to Riazor, he also spent time at Alaves, Atletico Madrid, and Villarreal but failed to win any silverware.
Midfielders
Maximiliano Rodríguez
Made his debut for Argentina in June 2003, against Japan, aged 22. Currently playing for Atletico Madrid, Rodríguez has won 10 caps for Argentina and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: January 2, 1981
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Rodríguez, who has dual Italian nationality, was a member of the Argentina U20 side that won the World Youth Championship in 2001.
Pablo Aimar
Made his debut for Argentina in June 1999, against Mexico, aged 19. Currently playing for Valencia, Aimar has won 39 caps for Argentina and has scored 7 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: November 3, 1979
Height: 1.70m (5ft 6in)
Fact: A member of Argentina's U20 FIFA World Cup-winning side in 1997, the highlights of Aimar's later career include being named Argentine Footballer of the Year in 2000.
Juan Riquelme
Made his debut for Argentina in November 1997, against Colombia, aged 19. Currently playing for Villarreal, Riquelme has won 30 caps for Argentina and has scored 8 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 24, 1978
Height: 1.82m (6ft)
Fact: Savalo was named South American Footballer of the Year in 2001, and was nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2005 after an impressive season for Villarreal, with 15 goals and 11 assists.
Esteban Matías Cambiasso
Made his debut for Argentina in December 2000, against Mexico, aged 19. He currently plays for Inter Milan.
Date of birth: August 18, 1980
Height: 1.78m (5ft 10in)
Fact: As a 16-year old, Cambiasso was a member of the Argentinian U20 team that won the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia; his later honours and silverware include the Argentinian League in 2002 with River Plate, the Spanish League in 2003 with Real Madrid, and the Italian Cup in 2005 with Inter Milan.
Javier Alejandro Mascherano
Made his debut for Argentina in July 2003, against Uruguay, aged 19. He currently plays for Brazilian side Corinthians.
Date of birth: June 8, 1984
Height: 1.70m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Rumoured to be a potential transfer target for a number of high profile European clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Real Madrid, Mascherano joined Corinthians from Argentinian side River Plate in July 2005; the club won the league title at the end of his first season in Brazil.
Luis Oscar González
Made his debut for Argentina in January 2003, against Honduras, aged 22. He currently plays for FC Porto.
Date of birth: January 19, 1981
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: González was a member of Argentina's gold medal-winning squad at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Lionel Scaloni
Made his debut for Argentina in February 2005, against Germany, aged 26. He currently plays for West Ham United.
Date of birth: May 16, 1978
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Scaloni joined West Ham on loan in January 2006 from Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna.
Strikers
Hernán Crespo
Made his debut for Argentina in February 1995, against Bulgaria, aged 19. Currently playing for Chelsea, Crespo has won 54 caps for Argentina and has scored 29 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: July 5, 1975
Height: 1.84m (6ft 1in)
Fact: Despite being well-known for his goal-scoring prowess for both club and country, Crespo did not score his first goal for the senior Argentina side until more than two years after making his international debut.
Javier Saviola
Made his debut for Argentina in August 2000, against Paraguay, aged 19. Currently playing for Sevilla, Saviola has won 30 caps for Argentina and has scored 9 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: December 11, 1981
Height: 1.68m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Savalo was named South American Footballer of the Year in 1999.
Lionel Messi
Made his debut for Argentina in August 2005, against Hungary, aged 18. Currently playing for Barcelona, Messi has won 3 caps for Argentina and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: June 24, 1987
Height: 1.69m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Messi was part of Argentina's U20 side that won the 2005 World Youth Championship in the Netherlands; his impressive performances gained him two high profile awards: he was voted the best player of the tournament and was also awarded the Golden Boot, as the tournament's top scorer with 6 goals.
Carlos Tévez
Made his debut for Argentina in March 2004, against Ecuador, aged 20. Currently playing for Brazilian side Corinthians, Tévez has won 19 caps for Argentina and has scored 2 goals for his country (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: February 5, 1984
Height: 1.69m (5ft 6in)
Fact: Named South American Player of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2005, Tévez was part of Argentina's gold medal winning squad at the 2004 Olympic Games, and was awarded the tournament's Golden Boot, after scoring 8 goals in 6 games.
Rodrigo Palacio
Made his debut for Argentina in March 2005, against Mexico, aged 23. He currently plays for Boca Juniors.
Date of birth: February 5, 1982
Height: 1.75m (5ft 8in)
Fact: In 2006, Palacio helped his side to win the Argentine league title for the second season in a row.
Julio Ricardo Cruz
Currently playing for Inter Milan. Cruz has 13 caps for Argentina and has scored 2 goals for his county (as at March 1, 2006).
Date of birth: October 10, 1974
Height: 1.90m (6ft 2in)
Fact: Cruz spent three seasons at Dutch side Feyenoord between 1997 and 2000, scoring 44 times in 86 appearances, and helping the club win the League title in 1999.