Argentina national football team

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Argentina
Nickname(s)	Albicelestes (White and Sky blue)
Association	Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (Argentine Football Association)
Confederation	CONMEBOL (South America)
Head coach	Alfio Basile
Captain	Javier Zanetti
Most caps	Javier Zanetti (118)
Top scorer	Gabriel Batistuta (56)
Home stadium	El Monumental
FIFA code	ARG
FIFA ranking	1
Highest FIFA ranking	1 (March 2007)
Lowest FIFA ranking	24 (August 1996)
Elo ranking	2
Highest Elo ranking	1 ()
Lowest Elo ranking	28 (June 1990)
First kit 　 Second kit
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)
World Cup
Appearances	14 (First in 1930)
Best result	Winners, 1978 and 1986
Copa América
Appearances	37 (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

The Argentina national football team is the national football team of Argentina and is controlled by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA). Argentina has the record for most international titles.^[1]

Argentina is one of the most successful national football teams in the world, and currently top in the in FIFA world rankings.^[2] The team has twice won the FIFA World Cup, in 1978 and 1986, and were runners up in 1930 and 1990. Argentina has won the Copa América 14 times, a record shared with Uruguay, and won the Confederations Cup in 1992.

Argentina and France are the only national teams in the world which have won the four most important titles organized by FIFA: World Cup, Gold medal in football in the Olympic Games, Confederations Cup, and the Continental Cup (Copa America for Argentina, and UEFA European Football Championship for France). ^{[3] [4]}

Contents 1 History 1.1 World Cup 2006 1.2 Copa América 2007 2 Competitive record 2.1 Pan American Games record 3 Kit Evolution 4 Managers 5 Players 5.1 Current Squad 5.2 Recent call-ups 5.3 Previous squads 5.4 Most capped players 5.5 Top goalscorers 5.6 Notable players 6 Facts 7 See also 8 Footnotes 9 External links

[edit] History

La Selección, 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.

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

Argentina also won the FIFA Confederations Cup and the Kirin Cup, both in 1992. Argentina also won the Olympics football gold medal in Athens 2004.^[5]

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

[edit] 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 favourites. 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 organised 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.

[edit] 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 favourites to beat Brazil in the final, but were defeated 0-3.

[edit] 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 Withdrew - - - - - - - 1950 Withdrew - - - - - - - 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 3 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 2 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 6 5 3 2 0 11 3 Total 14/18 2 Titles 65 33 13 19 113 74

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 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - 1999 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - 2001 Did Not Qualify - - - - - - 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 Silver 1928 Amsterdam Team Silver 1996 Atlanta Team Gold 2004 Athens Team

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

[edit] Pan American Games record

• 1951 - Champions
• 1955 - Champions
• 1959 - Champions
• 1963 - Second place
• 1967 - Round 1
• 1971 - 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

[edit] Kit Evolution

1901-1910

1911-present

World Cup 1978	World Cup 1994	World Cup 1998	Pre World Cup 2002
World Cup 2002	Olympics 2004	World Cup 2006

[edit] Managers

1924-1925 Angel Vázquez 1927-1928 José Lago Millán 1928-1929 Francisco Olazar 1929-1930 Olazar-Tramutola 1934-1934 Felipe Pascucci 1934-1937 Manuel Seoane 1937-1939 Ángel Fernández Roca 1939-1960 Guillermo Stábile 1960-1961 Victorio Spinetto

1961-1961 José D'Amico 1962-1963 Juan Carlos Lorenzo 1963-1963 Alejandro Galán 1963-1964 Horacio Amable Torres 1964-1968 José María Minella 1968-1968 Renato Cesarini 1968-1969 Humberto Dionisio Maschio 1969-1969 Adolfo Pedernera 1969-1972 Juan José Pizzuti

1972-1974 Enrique Omar Sívori 1974-1974 Vladislao Cap 1974-1983 César Luis Menotti 1983-1990 Carlos Bilardo 1990-1994 Alfio Basile 1994-1998 Daniel Passarella 1998-2004 Marcelo Bielsa 2004-2006 José Pekerman 2006-present Alfio Basile

[edit] Players

[edit] Current Squad

The following players were named for friendly match against Mexico in June, 2008.

caps and goals as of May 23, 2008.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club 1 GK Roberto Abbondanzieri August 19, 1972 (1972-08-19) (age 35) 44 0 Getafe 23 GK Oscar Ustari July 3, 1986 (1986-07-03) (age 21) 1 0 Getafe 22 DF Fabricio Coloccini January 22, 1982 (1982-01-22) (age 26) 27 1 Deportivo 4 DF Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez January 22, 1982 (1982-01-22) (age 26) 5 1 Villarreal CF 6 DF Gabriel Heinze March 19, 1978 (1978-03-19) (age 30) 43 2 Real Madrid 8 DF Javier Zanetti August 10, 1973 (1973-08-10) (age 34) 118 5 Inter Milan 3 DF Nicolás Burdisso April 12, 1981 (1981-04-12) (age 27) 18 1 Inter Milan 2 DF Martin Demichelis December 20, 1980 (1980-12-20) (age 27) 9 1 Bayern Munich 13 DF Pablo Zabaleta January 16, 1985 (1985-01-16) (age 23) 5 0 RCD Espanyol 21 MF Esteban Cambiasso August 18, 1980 (1980-08-18) (age 27) 40 3 Inter Milan 5 MF Fernando Gago April 10, 1986 (1986-04-10) (age 22) 14 0 Real Madrid 14 MF Javier Mascherano June 8, 1984 (1984-06-08) (age 24) 37 2 Liverpool 7 MF Maxi Rodríguez January 2, 1981 (1981-01-02) (age 27) 24 6 Atlético Madrid 15 MF Éver Banega June 29, 1988 (1988-06-29) (age 19) 0 0 Valencia CF 16 MF Jonás Gutiérrez May 7, 1983 (1983-05-07) (age 25) 2 0 Mallorca 17 MF José Ernesto Sosa June 19, 1985 (1985-06-19) (age 22) 2 0 Bayern Munich 11 FW Sergio Agüero June 2, 1988 (1988-06-02) (age 20) 7 2 Atlético Madrid 19 FW Lisandro Lopez March 2, 1983 (1983-03-02) (age 25) 3 0 FC Porto 9 FW Julio Ricardo Cruz October 10, 1974 (1974-10-10) (age 33) 18 3 Inter Milan 20 FW Fernando Cavenaghi September 21, 1983 (1983-09-21) (age 24) 2 0 Girondins de Bordeaux 18 FW Lionel Messi June 24, 1987 (1987-06-24) (age 20) 24 7 Barcelona

[edit] Recent call-ups

Here is the players call-up after Copa America, caps and goals as of before the Norway match

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club DF Gabriel Milito September 7, 1980 (1980-09-07) (age 27) 32 1 Barcelona (v. Egypt in March 08) MF Lucho González January 19, 1981 (1981-01-19) (age 27) 40 5 FC Porto (v. Egypt in March 08) FW Ezequiel Lavezzi May 3, 1985 (1985-05-03) (age 23) 4 1 Napoli (v. Egypt in March 08) GK Mariano Andújar July 30, 1983 (1983-07-30) (age 24) 0 0 Estudiantes (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) GK Agustín Orión June 26, 1981 (1981-06-26) (age 26) 1 0 San Lorenzo (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) DF Hugo Ibarra April 1, 1974 (1974-04-01) (age 34) 8 0 Boca Juniors (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) MF Sebastián Battaglia August 11, 1980 (1980-08-11) (age 27) 6 0 Boca Juniors (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) MF Federico Insúa January 3, 1980 (1980-01-03) (age 28) 6 0 América (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) MF Juan Román Riquelme June 24, 1978 (1978-06-24) (age 29) 44 17 Boca Juniors (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) FW Carlos Tévez February 5, 1984 (1984-02-05) (age 24) 38 7 Manchester Utd. (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) FW Germán Denis September 10, 1981 (1981-09-10) (age 26) 2 0 Independiente (WCQ v. Colombia, November 07) GK Juan Pablo Carrizo May 6, 1984 (1984-05-06) (age 24) 1 0 River Plate (WCQ v. Venezuela, October 07) DF Daniel Díaz March 13, 1979 (1979-03-13) (age 29) 4 0 Getafe (WCQ v. Venezuela, October 07) MF Fernando Belluschi September 10, 1983 (1983-09-10) (age 24) 2 0 Olympiacos (WCQ v. Venezuela, October 07) MF Daniel Montenegro March 28, 1979 (1979-03-28) (age 29) 1 0 Independiente (WCQ v. Venezuela, October 07) FW Javier Saviola December 11, 1981 (1981-12-11) (age 26) 40 11 Real Madrid (WCQ v. Venezuela, October 07) MF Cristian Raúl Ledesma December 29, 1978 (1978-12-29) (age 29) 3 0 Olympiacos (v. Australia in September 07) DF Ezequiel Garay October 10, 1986 (1986-10-10) (age 21) 1 0 Racing de Santander (v. Norway in August 07) FW Diego Milito June 12, 1979 (1979-06-12) (age 28) 14 4 Real Zaragoza (v. Norway in August 07)

[edit] Previous squads

• 2007 Copa América - Argentina
• 2006 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup squads - Argentina
• 2002 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1998 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1994 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1990 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1986 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1982 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1978 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1974 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1966 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1962 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1958 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1934 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina
• 1930 FIFA World Cup squads - Argentina

[edit] Most capped players

As of November 20, 2007, the ten players with the most caps for Argentina are:

#	Name	Career	Caps	Goals
1.	Javier Zanetti	1994 - present	118	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 - 2003	86	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

[edit] Top goalscorers

As of July 16, 2007, 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 - present	36	65
3.	Diego Maradona	1977 - 1994	34	91
4.	Luis Artime	1961 - 1967	24	25
5.	Leopoldo Luque	1975 - 1981	22	45
=	Daniel Passarella	1976 - 1986	22	70
7.	José Sanfilippo	1956 - 1962	21	29
=	Herminio Masantonio	1935 - 1942	21	19
9.	Mario Kempes	1973 - 1982	20	43
10.	Norberto Méndez	1945 - 1956	19	31
=	José Manuel Moreno	1936 - 1950	19	34
=	René Pontoni	1942 - 1947	19	19

[edit] Notable players

Matías Almeyda (1996-2005) 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) Jorge Burruchaga (1983-1990) Claudio Caniggia (1988-2002) Amadeo Carrizo (1946-1958) José Chamot (1991-2002) Hernán Crespo (1995-) Alfredo Di Stéfano (also played for Colombia and Spain) (1947) Ramón Díaz (1979-1982) Ubaldo Fillol (1972-1985) Marcelo Gallardo (1995-2002) Américo Gallego (1975-1982) Sergio Goycochea (1989-1995) Gabriel Heinze (2004-) Mario Kempes (1974-1982) Claudio López (1995-2004) Diego Armando Maradona (1977-1994) Juan Ramon Rocha (1975-1980) Silvio Marzolini (1961-1970)

José Manuel Moreno (1940-1947) Lionel Messi (2005-) Diego Milito (2005-) Gabriel Milito (2004-) Luis Monti (also played for Italy) (1924-1931) Julio Olarticoechea (1982-1990) Ariel Ortega (1993-2004) Daniel Passarella (1974-1986) Roberto Perfumo (1960-1974) Diego Placente (1997-2005) Antonio Rattín (1959-1966) Fernando Redondo (1991-1996) Juan Román Riquelme (1997-) Oscar Ruggeri (1982-1994) Javier Saviola (2003-) Roberto Néstor Sensini (1987-2003) Diego Simeone (1991-2003) Omar Sivori (also played for Italy) (1956-1957) Guillermo Stábile (1924-1934) Carlos Tévez (2004-) Jorge Valdano (1980-1990) Juan Sebastián Verón (1995-) Ricardo Villa (1974-1982) Javier Zanetti (1994-)

[edit] Facts

• Argentina and Uruguay hold the record for the most international matches played between two countries.^{[citations 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.^[7]
• 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.

[edit] See also

• Vamos vamos Argentina
• Argentina national under-20 football team
• Argentina national under-23 football team
• Argentina and Brazil football rivalry
• Argentina and England football rivalry

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links

• Official website, at the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino's website
• RSSSF archive of results 1901-2002
• RSSSF archive of results 1999-
• RSSSF archive of most capped players and highest goalscorers
• RSSSF archive of coaches 1901-90

Football in Argentina v • d • e
Asociación del Fútbol Argentino Argentina national football team League system
Seasons Amateur era Primera División Professional era Topscorers
Primera B Nacional
Primera B Metropolitana 3rd Level Torneo Argentino A Primera C Metropolitana 4th Level Torneo Argentino B Primera D Metropolitana 5th Level Torneo Argentino C
Derbies Clubs Stadiums Footballers Managers Internationals

International football v • d • e
FIFA | World Cup | Confederations Cup | U-20 World Cup | U-17 World Cup Olympics | Asian Games | All-Africa Games | Pan American Games | Island Games | Minor Tournaments World Rankings | Player of the Year | Teams | Competitions | Organizations | Codes
Asia: AFC – Asian Cup      Africa: CAF – Africa Cup of Nations      North America: CONCACAF – Gold Cup      South America: CONMEBOL – Copa América      Oceania: OFC – Nations Cup      Europe: UEFA – European Championship      Non-FIFA: NF-Board – Viva World Cup
National football teams of South America (CONMEBOL) v • d • e
Argentina | Bolivia | Brazil | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador | Paraguay | Peru | Uruguay | Venezuela |
1978 FIFA World Cup finalists v • d • e
Champions: Argentina  Runners-up: Netherlands  Third place: Brazil  Fourth place: Italy  Eliminated in Second Group Round: Austria • Peru • Poland • West  Germany Eliminated in Group Stage: France • Hungary • Iran • Mexico • Scotland • Spain • Sweden • Tunisia
1986 FIFA World Cup finalists v • d • e
Champions: Argentina Runners-up: West Germany Third place: France  Fourth place: Belgium  Eliminated in Quarter-finals: Brazil • England • Mexico • Spain Eliminated in Round of 16: Bulgaria • Denmark • Italy • Morocco • Paraguay • Poland • Uruguay • USSR Eliminated in Group Stage: Algeria • Canada • Hungary • Iraq • Korea Republic • Northern Ireland • Portugal • Scotland
2006 FIFA World Cup finalists v • d • e
Champions: Italy Runners-up: France Third place: Germany  Fourth place: Portugal  Eliminated in Quarter-finals: Argentina • Brazil • England • Ukraine Eliminated in Round of 16: Australia • Ecuador • Ghana • Mexico • Netherlands • Spain • Sweden • Switzerland Eliminated in Group Stage: Angola • Costa Rica • Côte d'Ivoire • Croatia • Czech Republic • Iran • Japan • Korea Republic • Paraguay • Poland • Saudi Arabia • Serbia & Montenegro • Togo • Trinidad and Tobago • Tunisia • United States
FIFA World Cup Winners v • d • e
5 titles: Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 & 2002) 4 titles: Italy (1934, 1938, 1982 & 2006) 3 titles: Germany (1954, 1974 & 1990) 2 titles: Uruguay (1930 & 1950) • Argentina (1978 & 1986) 1 title: England (1966) • France (1998)
National sports teams of Argentina v • d • e
Basketball (F, M) | Field Hockey (F, M) | Handball | Rugby League| Rugby Union | Football (Soccer) (F, M) | Tennis (F, M) | Volleyball (F, M)