Argentina! The country is widely known for the tango, elegant architecture, steak, wine, and football, while some of the most legendary figures of the twentieth century in the world of football comes form this country but the story of success is something different.
Argentina’s story of success started at the 1978 world cup held in Argentina beating Netherlands 3-1 to keep world cup home. Later in the year 1986 the team led by Diego Maradona were crowned the champions of the world held in mexico, where he(Diego Maradona) scored the infamous “Hand Of God”.
Now it’s been 30 years, the stars on the Argentine crest still counts to 2. The team led by Lionel Messi under the guidance of Alejandro Sabella lost to the mighty Gemany in 2014 when Mario Gotze scored the only goal at the 113′ minute to seal the deal.
What went worng for Argentina? let’s do a recap of the game:
- Higuain missed a gifted opportunity by Schweinsteiger, failed to socre in 1v1 situation.
- Higuain almost scored from a cross from Lavezzi but was offside.
- Romero denying Schurrle.
- Howedes denied by the post.
- Messi misses the net by a whisker.
- Palacio failed to place the ball into the net
- Mario gotze scoring the winner at the 113th minute.
Later that night Messi was presented with the World Cup Golden Ball, Manuel Neuer with the Golden Gloves, James Rodríguez with the Golden Boot for scoring (6 goals, 2 assists).
2018 Fifa World Cup, Russia
Argentine team was in shambles under Edgardo Bauza, the team that reached the finals of the World Cup was fighting to qualify for the 2018 edition of the world cup. Bauza was sacked and Sampaoli was brought in to guide the team, the man was put in a mission with his to dream to coach a team with Lionel Messi in it.
Only two games to go, the last chance for Argentina to qualify for the world cup.But the game against Peru ended with a frustrating draw. Leaving behind the only game to play and that was against Ecuador. The match was played at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa a stadium at a height of 2,782 meters above sea level where they defeated Brazil twice, Paraguay three times, and Argentina twice, amongst others, securing their positions in Korea/Japan 2002, Germany 2006, and Brazil 2014. During the qualifying for Germany 2006 and Brazil 2014, Ecuador qualified and remained undefeated in this stadium.
The match started with a heart-break when Romario Ibarra scored in the 1′ min mark, it was a must win game for albiceleste and the road to world cup was starting to fade, that’s when Lionel Messi happened! The little genius ripped ecuador appart with a hattrick and sealed their place in the 2018 world cup Russia.
After a 6-1 defeat to spain with a Messi-less squad sampaoli called upon 35 preliminary squad and later will be narrowed down to 23 men. A team that can boast of to have the best attacking talents in the world right now with the likes of Dybala, Messi, Higuain, Aguero even Mauro Icardi (inter) made it to the team of preliminary squad players like Zenit midfielder Matias Kranevitter and Atletico Madrid forward Angel Correa have missed out on a place in the 35-men group, while there is predictably no sign of veteran Carlos Tevez. Tevez’s Boca team-mates Cristian Pavon and Pablo Perez, however, do get a call, as Sampaoli includes five Argentine Superliga names in his shortlist. Alongside the Xeneize pair is River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani and Racing’s Lautaro Martinez and Ricardo Centurion. Armani and Centurion are also among three uncapped players in the line-up, a list completed by Sporting midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia. Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign against Iceland in Group D on June 14, before facing Croatia and Nigeria in the battle to reach the knockout stages.
The opta figures behind Argentina’s success had been one man Lionel Messi winning 5 games and drawn 1 and without him Argentina managed to win just 1 game! 
The world cup is not just to win the most prestigious tournament in the world of football but also it’s the time to show the world who Argentina is! not individually but as a whole team.
They have done it in the past, they can do it in the near future.
Vamos Argentina.
One Last Time.
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