Team profile: Argentina
While their fans may be getting used to disappointment, Argentina’s low-key approach to the finals may be just the tonic for one of their many creative players to finally take the mantle from the legendary Diego Maradona.
Published On 4 Jun 2006
FIFA Ranking: 9
Key players: Hernan Crespo, Juan Roman Riquelme, Carlos Tevez
World Cup record: 14th appearance
Best finish: Champion 1978, 1986
Last appearance: First round 2002
Qualifying route: Second in South American qualifying
Key question: Can Argentina outshine South American arch rival Brazil?
Squad:
| Goalkeepers | # |
| Roberto Abbondanzieri | 1 |
| Leonardo Franco | 12 |
| Oscar Ustari | 23 |
| Defenders | |
| Roberto Ayala | 2 |
| Juan Pablo Sorin | 3 |
| Fabricio Coloccini | 4 |
| Gabriel Heinze | 6 |
| Lionel Scaloni | 13 |
| Gabriel Milito | 15 |
| Leandro Cufre | 17 |
| Nicolas Burdisso | 21 |
| Midfielders | |
| Esteban Cambiasso | 5 |
| Javier Mascherano | 8 |
| Juan Roman Riquelme | 10 |
| Pablo Aimar | 16 |
| Maximiliano Rodriguez | 18 |
| Luis Gonzalez | 22 |
| Forwards | |
| Javier Saviola | 7 |
| Hernan Crespo | 9 |
| Carlos Tevez | 11 |
| Rodrigo Palacio | 14 |
| Lionel Messi | 19 |
| Julio Cruz | 20 |
Group matches:
v Ivory Coast, 19:00 GMT, Saturday 10th June – Hamburg
v Serbia & Montenegro, 13:00 GMT, Friday 16th June – Gelsenkirchen
v Netherlands, 19:00 GMT, Wednesday 21st June – Frankfurt