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Football comes as the most popular sport in Argentina, making it a priority for the major part of citizens in the country when it comes to enumerating their most important source of fun. Argentinian players have also earned a good reputation in general over the years, with many of them currently being registered in some of the world’s most respected leagues.
While club football is regarded as an extremely serious business in the country, especially when the time of the Superclásico approaches, their national team hasn’t failed to get some attention. As a side with a valued history, La Albiceleste often enter tournaments as favourites – although recent years haven’t seen them triumph much in top competitions.
Regardless, they literally stand one of their greatest opportunities to regain their lost Copa America title. The Argentines will be competing for the ultimate honour at home for the first time since 1987, and this simply adds to their chances of ruling their continent after 18 years of disappointment.
A Recap Of Argentina’s Copa America History And Record
The country that first hosted the world’s oldest continental tournament can also be looked upon as the Copa America’s most successful team. Just as Uruguay, Argentina have 14 titles in their name; their last one being clinched back in 1993. 18 years of unproductive runs – marked by unsatisfying campaigns in 5 consecutive editions – have revealed just how unlucky La Albiceleste have been under different managers.
Argentina came close to tasting greatness twice in 2004 and 2007. On both occasions, they were defeated by arch-rivals Brazil in the final – inadvertently cementing their enemies’ place as South America’s best, at least, in the last decade.
Still, the 1986 world champions maintain their position as the team having collected the most medals in the Copa America’s history; yet, this is mainly due to the success they had in the “old” version of the tournament, then known as the South American Championship of National Teams in the English world.
In the ended era, La Albiceleste reached 22 finals in 29 editions, in which they emerged champions 12 times. After finishing as runners-up twice in a row subsequent to defeats to Uruguay, Argentina entered the 20s with no title in their name. It took them 2 more finals to become champions, with Brazil turning into their victims in 1921.
The next 16 years saw them share their authority with La Celeste, while they stayed in firm position in the 3 years that followed the end of the World War II, winning thrice on the trot. They fell asleep however after the start of the new era in 1975, suffering first round exits in the first 3 editions, before making a weak comeback in 1987 with a fourth-place finish.
They showed signs of improvement 2 years after, when they received bronze medals; but they built on what they had fast enough to obtain gold in 1991 and 1993. They were not quite able to repeat their achievements in the following 3 three editions, in which they failed to cross the quarterfinals. As they did midway through the 20th century, they withdrew from the competition in 2001, but participated again afterward – only to be humbled by Brazil twice in Peru and Venezuela, in bitter manners.
Champions: 1921, 1925, 1927, 1929, 1937, 1941, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1991, 1993
Second Place: 1916, 1917, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1926, 1935, 1942, 1959, 1967, 2004, 2007
Third Place: 1919, 1956, 1963, 1989
Fourth Place: 1922, 1987
Quarterfinals: 1995, 1997, 1999
Round 1: 1975, 1979, 1983
Withdrew: 1939, 1949, 1953, 2001
Argentina’s 2011 Copa America Coach And Squad
Argentina’s Coach:
Sergio Batista is a former midfielder who represented his country from 1985 to 1990. He was appointed as the national team’s caretaker manager after legend Diego Maradona abandoned his duties as a boss. Batista won his first games with Argentina, beating Ireland 1-0 and humiliating Spain 4-0. His first defeat came in a friendly against Japan, but his 1-0 triumph over Brazil is certainly one his greatest feats so far since being in charge of La Albiceleste.
Argentina’s 2011 Copa America 23-man squad roster:
Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo, Sergio Romero, Mariano Andujar
Defenders: Ezequiel Garay , Pablo Zabaleta, Nicolas Burdisso, Gabriel Milito, Marcos Rojo, Javier Zanetti, Nicolas Pareja
Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia, Javier Pastore, Ever Banega, Fernando Gago.
Forwards: Sergio Aguero, Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Diego Milito.
Top Quote From Argentina’s Camp Ahead Of The 2011 Copa America
Lionel Messi to TyC Sports:
"My greatest dream is to win the (2011) Copa America. We all know what it means for me and for Argentina. It is the main goal as we are a very good team of players.
"We always said we lacked the time to improve in all areas, but now we have it. Our type of game is having the ball and attacking.”
