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2018 may be Lionel Messi’s best opportunity to earn top honors for Argentina at the World Cup (photo credit: Casey Woodrum)
Population: 43.8 million
Capital: Buenos Aires
Team Colors: Blue and White
How Qualified: 3rd in CONMEBOL qualifying
Nickname: La Albiceleste
17th World Cup
Head Coach: Jorge Sampaoli (ARG)
Key Players: Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus)
Best Performance: Champions (1978, 1986)
Can they go one further this time? In 2014, they were runners-up to Germany in extra time. At the 2015 Copa America, they were runners-up to Chile on penalties. At the 2016 Copa America Centenario, they were runners-up to Chile on penalties.
Lionel Messi has won just about everything there is to win in soccer—except the World Cup. A championship for Argentina at senior level is missing from his resume. Messi was required just to get Argentina qualified on the last day of group play in CONMEBOL.
Of course, it’s not all about Messi. There’s also Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Perotti, Marcos Rojo, and others. They also have experienced three tournaments as runners-up.
For Argentina, it’s the Cup or nothing. Indifferent qualification campaigns are not always indicators of how the team will do at the World Cup. Just ask both Brazil and Germany in 2002.
Yet, after Cristiano Ronaldo finally claimed a trophy for Portugal at Euro 2016, the pressure is really on Messi to produce one for Argentina. The group is one they should get through, but they underestimate Iceland at their own risk and same goes against Croatia and Nigeria. One false step could mean a second round match against France.
Overall, the object is to go one further than they have had in the last three major tournaments and finally get that World Cup for the first time since Diego Maradona graced the pitch—and get that trophy for arguably Argentina’s best player since Maradona.
Schedule:
June 16: vs. Iceland in Moscow (Spartak), (8am CT on FOX/Telemundo)
June 21: vs. Croatia in Nizhny Novgorod (1pm CT on FOX/Telemundo)
June 26: vs. Nigeria in St. Petersburg (1pm CT on FOX/Telemundo)
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