Argentina national football team

The Argentina national football team is a renowned power in world football. They have won the Olympics twice, the Copa America fourteen times, the Confederations Cup once and the world cup twice. Along with Brazil, Spain, and Germany they are one of the only teams to win the world cup outside of their own continent.

The team has a long history in international football. Their first fixture was against Uruguay in 1901. They played the same team in the first world cup final in 1930, losing to them 4-2. As I mentioned they have won two world cups, but they have also lost in three world cup finals.

The Argentina national football team had their biggest victory in 1942. They defeated Ecuador 12-0. Their biggest defeat came as recently as 2009 when they lost to Bolivia 6-1.

The Argentina national football team have made it to 16 world cup finals tournaments. That includes the last 11 tournaments in a row. Apart from a brief panic in 2010 qualifying, things have been very straightforward

World cup history

1930

Uruguay

The first ever world cup was held in Uruguay. Only thirteen teams entered the competition which was eventually won by the hosts. The Argentina national football team actually lost in the final to Uruguay. Overall the tournament was bad tempered. It could also be seen as competitive, as there had been a worry it may not capture the public’s attention.

1934

Italy

Four years later the World cup tournament had undergone a change. It was held in Italy and this time teams had to qualify to take part. Although the Argentina national football team made it to the finals, they had also undergone a few changes. The side did not contain any players that were in the squad that made it to the final four years previously. This was due to internal disputes. They were eliminated in the first round, losing 3-2 to Sweden.

1958

Sweden

After 1934 the Argentina national football team did not enter another tournament until 1958 in Sweden. This was due to disputes over the staging of back-to-back tournaments in Europe and the second World War. On their return they were well fancied but struggled in the group, eventually finishing bottom. After an opening fixture defeat to reigning world champions West Germany, the side recovered to beat giant killers Northern Ireland. The final fixture, against eventual losing finalists Czechoslovakia, was where it really unravelled for the team. A 6-1 defeat left the Argentina national football team on the plane home. The team actually landed in Uruguay to avoid the angry fans in Argentina.

1962

Chile

The 1962 world cup was notable for being the first to use goal average as a means of separating teams in a group format. Different to today’s goal difference, goal average is calculated by dividing the number of goals scored, by goals conceded. This change actually worked to the Argentina national football team’s disadvantage. After beating Bulgaria and losing to England, both they and England drew their last fixtures to end on the same points. On goal average Argentina again fell at the first hurdle, as they had four years previously.

1966

England

The 1966 world cup was held in, and won by, England. It proved to be an improvement for the Argentina national football team as they progressed from the initial group phase with two wins and a draw. In the first knock-out round through the side came unstuck against the hosts in London. Sir Geoff Hurst, hero in the final, scored the only goal in a 1-0 defeat. The game is remembered as a controversial one, as Argentina had a man sent off before the goal.

1974

West Germany

Despite their progress in 1966, the Argentina national football team actually failed to qualify for the 1970 edition. Upon returning in 1974, the team progressed from their opening group with a win, a draw and a loss. They finished in second place on the same points as Italy, but with a better goal difference. In this format of the world cup the teams then went into a second group phase. This did not go as well for Argentina as they only managed a single point. This included a painful 2-1 defeat to rivals Brazil.

1978

Argentina

In 1978 Argentina themselves hosted the world cup. There were several controversies surrounding this edition of the world cup. These included a military coup in Argentina two years previous which nearly caused other nations to withdraw. There was also an apparent deal struck between Argentina and Peru to allow the host nation to win by more than four goals.

Whether this is true or not history will tell us that the Argentina national football team won their first ever world cup, on home soil. In the first group stage Argentina and Italy both won their two opening fixtures which meant when the teams met, the result did not affect who qualified. After losing to Italy the team finished second and were placed in the second round group alongside old rivals Brazil.

After both teams won their opening fixtures and drew with each other, it would come down to goal difference to decide who was to make it to the final. As Argentina were playing after Brazil they would know how many goals they needed. Needing four they beat Peru by six goals to nil. In the final they met the Netherlands where they needed extra-time to beat them 3-1.

1982

Spain

The world cup in 1982 was the first time the competition expanded from 16 to 24 teams. The format of the tournament had also adapted. There were still two group phases but now separate one off fixtures for them semi-finals. The Argentina national football team did not begin their defence well as they lost 1-0 to Belgium. The side recovered to win their last two group fixtures to progress in second place. Their second round group contained themselves, Italy and Brazil. The side lost both games and were eliminated, although Italy did go on to lift the trophy.

1986

Mexico

In Mexico in 1986 the format once again changed and now began to resemble the one used today. Gone were the second round groups and in were knock-out rounds. The Argentina national football returned in strong shape, winning two and drawing one of their group fixtures. The draw came against reigning champions Italy who they finished above.

After squeezing past Uruguay in the first knock-out round they then went on the face England in the quarter final. In what was a memorable fixture Maradona scored the infamous ‘Hand of God‘. After a poor back-pass the forward jumped above Peter Shilton to punch the ball into the goal. Soon after he then scored one of the greatest goals in world cup history. He dribbled past five players and rounded the goalkeeper to score. It was a goal which has gone on to be recognised as ‘The Goal of the Century.’ Argentina won the game 2-1.

After beating Belgium in the semi-final the side went on to play West Germany in the final. After throwing away a 2 goal lead, the Argentina national football team broke German hearts by scoring a winner in the 83rd minute. It was the team’s second and final world cup win to date.

1990

Italy

The last time the Argentina national football team were reigning world champions their defence did not go well. This time in Italy it looked to be the same story. In their opening fixture they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Cameroon. After a win and a draw in their final two group fixtures the team only made it through as one of the best third placed teams.

In the first knock-out round the team faced South American rivals Brazil. Brazil had won all of their group fixtures and finished top of their group but Argentina managed to upset the form-book and defeat them 1-0. After squeezing past Yugoslavia on penalties in the quarter finals they did the same against hosts Italy in the semi finals. In a poor final Argentina were beaten 1-0 by a late West Germany penalty.

During the world cup the Argentina picked up a number of negative accolades. The team reached the final having scored only five goals which was a record low. They also became the first team to have a player sent off in the world cup final (they actually ended the match with nine men). Finally, they became the first team ever not to score in a world cup final.

1994

United States

In USA 1994 the Argentina national football team began quickly, unlike four years previous. After a comfortable victory against Greece they overcame an impressive Nigeria team to take six points from six. Strangely the side actually ended up finishing third again in the group, after losing 2-0 to Bulgaria. The top three teams in the group qualified with six points. That was as good as it got for Argentina as they lost to Romania in the last-sixteen and crashed out.

1998

France

The Argentina national football team did not make the mistake of not topping their group in France 1998. Three wins from three (in an admittedly weak group) saw the team looking strong as they went into the last-sixteen. Here they renewed old rivalries with England. After an exciting 2-2 draw the team managed to overcome them on penalties and progress to the quarter-finals. Here they met another old rival in the Netherlands in a repeat of the 1978 world cup final. The result was reversed this time around as the Netherlands won the game 2-1 to gain their revenge and eliminate Argentina.

2002

Japan and South Korea

In the Argentina national football team were to meet England again four years later as they were drawn in their group. England gained their revenge with a 1-0 victory and ultimately qualified from the group at the Argentinian’s expense. With both of the final group fixtures ending in draws it was Sweden who topped the group with Argentina eliminated in third.

2006

Germany

The Argentina national football team made no mistake in the group stage four years on from Japan and South Korea. In Germany both they and the Netherlands had already qualified before the two met in the final fixture. Argentina topped the group due to an impressive 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro. In the last-sixteen the team were struggling to overcome Mexico until a Maxi Rodriguez strike in extra-time settled the fixture. In the quarter-final Argentina were beaten by hosts Germany. After a 1-1 draw they went out on penalties. It was the first time the Argentina national football team had lost a penalty shoot-out in a world cup.

2010

South Africa

In South Africa the Argentina national football team again cruised through their group. Three wins from three saw the side through on nine points with South Korea a full five points behind in second place. Again Argentina faced Mexico in the last-sixteen and again they put them out of the world cup. This time it was a more comfortable 3-1. In a strange twist the Argentina national football team again faced Germany in the quarter-final and again lost. The German’s did not need penalties this time as they thumped Argentina 4-0.

2014

Brazil

The world cup in 2014 was hosted by the Argentina national football team’s biggest rivals Brazil. The tournament was eventually won by Germany who became the first European team to win a world cup in South America. Argentina won all three of their group fixtures but only by a single goal in each. In their second game a last-minute Messi goal secured a 1-0 win over Iran.

Topping the group the side moved onto Switzerland in the last-sixteen. A 118th minute extra-time goal saw them through to the quarter-final. Another 1-0 win over Belgium put them into the semi-final. After a 0-0 draw the game went to penalties and a 4-2 win over the Netherlands put the Argentina national football team into their fifth world cup final.

The game again ended 0-0, but a 113th minute extra-time goal for Germany left the team as runners-up. The last seven minutes of the final was the only time in the whole tournament that the side trailed in a game.

Argentina national football team