Argentina (Group C)

Team founded: 1893 (affiliated: 1912)

World Cup Participations: 13 (in 1930, 1934, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)

World Cup Honors: two-time FIFA World Cup winners (1978, 1986); two-time FIFA World Cup runner-up (1930, 1990)

Titles: Copa America 14 times (1921, 1925, 1927, 1927, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993); Pan American Cup 6 times (1951, 1955, 1959, 1971, 1995, 2003)

Coach: Jose Pekerman (nationality: Argentinian)

Team Captain: Juan Pablo Sorin (Villareal)

The Squad
Goalkeepers:
Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors)
Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid)
Oscar Ustari (Independiente)

Defenders:
Roberto Ayala (Valencia)
Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan)
Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna)
Leandro Cufre (AS Roma)
Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United)
Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza)
Juan Pablo Sorin (Villareal)

Midfielders:
Pablo Aimar (Valencia)
Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan)
Luis Gonzalez (Porto)
Javier Mascherano (Corinthians)
Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal)
Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid)
Lionel Scaloni (West Ham)

Forwards:
Hernan Crespo (Chelsea)
Julio Cruz (Inter Milan)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors)
Javier Saviola (Sevilla)
Carlos Tevez (Corinthians)

Ranking: 8

Qualifiers: Made it to Germany easily, second in South America only to Brazil, who won out on goal difference.

Schedule:
June 10 v Ivory Coast (Hamburg) W 2-1
June 16 v Serbia & Montenegro (Gelsenkirchen) W 6-0
June 21 v Netherlands (Frankfurt)

The Odds: In the killer group C, the Albiceleste (“Sky Whites”) face the Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro and will have to be consistent to advance to round two, which they failed to do in 2002. But Argentina did finish second to Brazil in the South American qualifiers, and beat them once. One of Argentina’s superstars, Carlos Tevez, knows the Brazilians well, as he anchors Brazilian club champion, Corinthians. And Argentina’s young stars, such as teen phenoms Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero, are emerging fast. Argentina has won the Cup twice, and finished second twice, but is vulnerable if it doesn’t come out hot in the group stage, because all four teams there are capable of progressing. Perhaps jeopardizing the team's prospect is that the camp is split between those who favor Sorin as captain, and those who back former captain, defender Roberto Ayala. The real leader may be playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme, leader of the world's possibly best midfield.

Updates:

Defender Gabriel Heinze looks set to overcome injury in time for the group opener; 18-year-old star Lionel Messi is healing from a thigh injury; Maxi Rodriguez and Juan Pablo Sorin scored to lead the tam to a 2-0 friendly win over Angola.